Your responsibilities:
- Take steps to prevent pipes from freezing or bursting during cold weather, particularly if you are away from home.
- Fit supply pipework for washing machines and dishwashers if not already provided.
- Turn off your water supply at the stoptap if a water pipe has burst, and then turning on all taps to allow remaining water to flow out.
Please note:
- You should know where the stoptap is in order to turn the water off in an emergency. It is normally under the kitchen sink or in the downstairs toilet.
- If water is leaking onto electrical fittings, do not touch them and isolate the circuit at the consumer unit/fuse box.
- If damage is caused by water leaking, you may be able to make an insurance claim on your own home contents insurance.
- If you are away from home during cold weather, e.g. if you go on holiday or into hospital, you should leave your heating on all the time on a low setting. This will prevent water freezing in pipes.
When you report a repair to water pipes and taps, we need to know:
- What the problem is e.g. is there no water? Is a pipe leaking or burst? Is the overflow running or broken? Is a tap dripping or faulty?
- If water is leaking into your property, is it coming from the flat above? What is the address? Are there any other connected problems?
- If there’s no water, are your neighbours also affected?
