The short answer: You are responsible for the private supply pipe that runs from your property boundary into your home, plus all internal plumbing. Your water company looks after the public main and the communication pipe up to the boundary. Many companies offer a free or subsidised first repair on the supply pipe, so always check with South West Water before paying.
It is one of the most common worries we hear after a leak is found. The water is clearly going somewhere, the bill has crept up, and the obvious question follows close behind: whose job is it to find and fix the problem, and who picks up the cost? The good news is that the rules in England and Wales are clearer than most people expect. Once you understand where the dividing line sits, you can work out exactly what is yours to sort out and what belongs to your water company.
Where the dividing line sits
Water reaches your home through a chain of pipes, and ownership changes hands along the way. The public water main usually runs under the road or pavement. From that main, a short length of pipe called the communication pipe carries water as far as your property boundary. Beyond the boundary, the supply pipe takes over and runs across your land and into the house, feeding your internal plumbing.
The simple version is this. Your water company owns and maintains the main and the communication pipe, up to the boundary. You own the supply pipe from the boundary onwards, along with every tap, toilet, tank and appliance inside the property. The point where responsibility passes from the company to you is normally marked by the outside stop tap, which often sits at or near the boundary in a small chamber in the pavement or front garden.
Which leaks are yours, and which are the water company's
If the leak is on the main or the communication pipe, before the boundary, it is the water company’s problem to investigate and repair, and there is no cost to you. If the leak is anywhere on your supply pipe or inside the house, it falls to you as the property owner. That covers the underground run across your drive or garden, the pipe where it enters the building, and all the visible plumbing indoors.
- The public main and communication pipe (up to your boundary): your water company
- The supply pipe from the boundary into your home: you, the property owner
- Internal plumbing, fittings and appliances: you, the property owner
- A pipe shared with neighbours: joint responsibility between the owners it serves
Shared supply pipes are worth a special mention because they catch a lot of people out. On older terraced streets, one supply pipe sometimes serves several homes before branching off to each one. Where a pipe is shared, the owners it serves usually have joint responsibility for the shared section and for splitting any repair costs. If you are unsure whether your pipe is shared, your water company can often tell you from their records.
Who pays to find and fix the leak
Because the supply pipe is yours, the cost of tracing and repairing a leak on it generally lands with you. That said, the picture is rarely as bleak as it first looks, and there is real help available if you ask for it.
Many water companies will give you some free leak detection support and will offer a free or subsidised first repair on the external part of your supply pipe. The exact terms vary, and there are usually conditions attached, such as it being the first time you have reported a leak, the work being carried out by a suitably qualified plumber, and the repair being completed within a set window. The help can take the form of a one-off repair, a grant towards replacing an old pipe, or a contribution towards your costs. We would always suggest you check directly with South West Water what they currently offer before you commit to paying for a private repair, because that one phone call can save a surprising amount.
If you are on a water meter, there is a second piece of good news. Once a supply-pipe leak has been repaired, you can usually apply for a leak allowance, which credits your account for the water lost while the leak was running. This is designed to stop you being penalised for water that never reached your taps. Allowances are typically granted once, are subject to conditions, and need to be claimed, so it is worth speaking to South West Water rather than assuming the credit will appear on its own. To be clear, no water company can guarantee a particular allowance or repair contribution in advance, so treat any figures you see online as a guide rather than a promise.
What to do next if you think you have a leak
A few simple checks help you work out where the problem lies before anyone starts digging. Find your internal stop tap, usually under the kitchen sink, and turn off the water to the house. With everything inside switched off, look at your water meter. If the meter is still ticking over, water is moving somewhere between the meter and your stop tap, which points to a leak on the supply pipe rather than the indoor plumbing. If the meter stops, the issue is more likely inside.
Once a leak on your side is confirmed, it becomes your responsibility to arrange the repair, and you are generally expected to act reasonably promptly rather than leave it running for months. The sensible order of events is to report the leak to South West Water and ask what support they offer, then arrange for the leak to be traced accurately. Pinpointing exactly where an underground leak is, without ripping up the whole garden, is where professional help pays for itself. Our team uses non-invasive methods to locate the leak precisely, so any repair is targeted and the disruption is kept to a minimum.
If you would like to understand the wider picture, our guide to underground investigation explains how a hidden leak is found, and you can read more about how we trace problems on our underground water leak detection service page. We cover homes and businesses right across Devon, so wherever you are in the county, help is close to hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends where the leak is. If it is on the public main or the communication pipe up to your boundary, it is the water company’s responsibility to fix at no cost to you. If it is on the supply pipe from the boundary into your home, or anywhere in your internal plumbing, it is yours to arrange and pay for as the property owner.
Many companies offer free leak detection support and a free or subsidised first repair on the external supply pipe, usually with conditions attached. The terms vary and nothing is guaranteed in advance, so contact South West Water and ask what help they currently provide before you pay for a private repair.
Turn off your internal stop tap so no water reaches the house, then check your water meter. If it is still moving, water is escaping between the meter and the tap, which suggests a supply-pipe leak. If it stops, the problem is more likely inside the property. Either way, the run beyond the boundary is your responsibility.
If you are on a meter, you can usually apply for a leak allowance once the leak is repaired. It credits your account for water lost while the leak was running. Allowances are normally given once and are subject to conditions, so check the current rules with South West Water and make sure you claim it.
Where one supply pipe serves several homes, the owners it serves usually share responsibility for the shared section and split the repair costs between them. If you are not sure whether your pipe is shared, your water company can often confirm it from their records before any work starts.
Not sure where your leak is hiding?
We pinpoint supply-pipe leaks accurately across Devon, so your repair stays targeted and tidy. Get in touch and we will talk you through your options.