Signs you may have a plumbing problems claim
- Pipes leaking under sinks, behind walls or under floors
- Blocked or slow drains, sinks and baths
- Sewage or waste water backing up
- Very low or no water pressure
- Banging, hammering or rattling pipes
- No working stopcock to turn the water off
Pipes, drains and water supply
Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 covers the installations for the supply of water and for sanitation, which means the pipes bringing water in, the pipes taking waste away, stopcocks, tanks, traps and the drains serving your home. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 adds that problems with water supply and drainage can make a home unfit.
Common plumbing disrepair
- Corroded or split pipework leaking inside walls, under floors or in lofts.
- Waste pipes blocked, cracked or poorly connected so sinks and baths drain slowly or not at all.
- Drains that back up, flooding the kitchen, bathroom or garden with waste water or sewage.
- Low pressure or intermittent supply because of defective pipework or a failing pump.
- Old lead pipework that should have been replaced.
- No working stopcock, so a leak cannot be stopped in an emergency.
Why it matters
Plumbing failures cause leaks, damp and mould, ruin floors and ceilings and can leave a household without water or sanitation. Sewage backing up is a serious health hazard that must be dealt with the same day.
What you can claim
- Repair or replacement of pipework, drains and fittings, and repair of the damage caused.
- Compensation as a percentage of rent for the period affected.
- Replacement of belongings damaged by water or sewage.
- Compensation for ill health.
Evidence that helps
Film leaks and blockages while they are happening. Photograph damage as it spreads. Keep plumbers' call-out notes and every repair reference number.
Think you have a housing disrepair claim?
Tell us what is wrong with your home and we will check, free of charge, whether you can claim repairs and compensation on a no win, no fee basis.
Plumbing disrepair: your questions answered
Sewage is coming up through the drain. What should I do?
Report it immediately as an emergency and keep records. If your landlord does not respond the same day, contact your council's environmental health team as well as us.
Are blocked drains my responsibility?
Only if you caused the blockage, for example by pouring fat down the sink. Blockages caused by defective, collapsed or poorly laid pipes are the landlord's problem.
My water pressure is terrible. Is that disrepair?
If it is caused by defective pipework, tanks or pumps in the property or building, yes. If the mains supply itself is weak, the water company may be responsible instead.
Can I claim for a plumber I paid myself in an emergency?
If the landlord failed to respond to an emergency after being told, the reasonable cost can be claimed. Keep the invoice.