When is a water leak your responsibility?

Residents in Clevedon said they were "shocked" to find out they will face bills of £5,000 each to repair a pipe that is leaking thousands of litres of water a day.

Bristol Water said the leak, which has been ongoing for more than a year, is on a private supply pipe, meaning the owners are responsible for fixing it.

But how do you know whether a leak is down to you to fix, or your water company?

Homeowners are responsible for maintaining all pipes on their property, which includes not only internal plumbing, but also the supply pipes connecting a home to the mains.

Water companies are meanwhile responsible for the mains water pipes, which often lie under the street.

So who is responsible for a repair comes down to whether the pipe in question is inside a property's boundary - whether that is under the home, in front of the building, or in the garden.

In most cases, the homeowner is responsible for all pipes up to the external stop tap, with water firms accepting responsibility beyond that point.

You can check your property deeds and ask your water company for any evidence it might have about the pipes which you are responsible for.

If there is a leak or burst pipe within your boundary, you have to arrange for it to be repaired - and cover the associated costs.

Andy White, senior lead for social policy at the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) said: "A common misconception is that water companies are responsible for pipework all the way to the property, as is often the case with gas and electricity supplies."

White said another common misconception is that homeowners cannot be responsible for pipework which crosses other people's land.

You are responsible for pipes connecting your home to the mains supply, even if it goes onto somebody else's land, he said.

This is more common in more remote areas, he added.

Sometimes two or more properties share a private supply pipe.

White said if there was a shared supply pipe serving more than one property, it is the joint responsibility of all property owners connected to it.

You will be able to find out the if this is the case using property deeds or with the help of your water company.

If the leak is on shared pipework, you should agree the repair with your neighbours and share the cost.

According to online plumber directory WaterSafe, knowing how to find a water leak early can save you from expensive repairs and water damage.

Common sources of leaks in the home include toilets, dripping taps, showers, radiators and pipework.

If you are on a water meter, a higher than normal bill may indicate a leak.

You can test for a leak by turning off all appliances that use water, waiting half an hour to take a meter reading, and then comparing this to another reading you take at least two hours later.

If you are not on a meter, signs of a leak could be loss of pressure, rust, areas of lush or reduced vegetation, and damp or mould patches on ceilings, floors or carpets.

If you find a leak on your private pipework, you are encouraged to contact a plumber and check if repairs would be covered on your home insurance.

If the leak is from an external pipe outside your property boundary, you should report it to your water company for them to fix.

If your water company finds a leak on pipes you are responsible for, they may issue a Private Leakage Notification - a legal document giving you 28 days to get it repaired.

As a last resort, water companies may take enforcement action if you do not get the leak fixed.

White said: "Your water company may be able to provide one-off assistance with locating or repairing private supply-pipe leaks, but policies vary between companies.

"If you have a water meter and your bill was abnormally high because of a leak that has since been repaired, you may be able to claim a leakage allowance or bill adjustment for the cost of the lost water," he added.

He urged any unhappy customers to follow the water company's formal complaints process and bring the dispute to the CCW if unsolved.

The support on offer varies depending on the water company in your area.

Bristol Water and South West Water offer a 30-minute free leak detection service, an automatic £100 subsidy to go towards repairs, and a £250 subsidy if you replace the leaking supply pipe within a certain timeframe.

Wessex Water and Severn Trent Water offer a leak allowance to cover the extra water bills, as long as you repair the leak promptly.

Thames Water says that customers eligible for financial support or priority services may be able to help fixing a leak.

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