As of March 2024 Repairing Standard was updated which now means landlords are obligated to make sure that the water supply to their rental property is lead free.

This is now a government requirement that all landlords need to follow to ensure their rental property is free of lead and to meet the updated repairing standard guidelines.

Lead service pipes were phased out during the 1960s and were made illegal in 1969, meaning if your property was built from 1970 onwards the chances are quite low that you will have a lead communications pipe, but you may well still have lead pipes or lead fittings inside your property.

Following Repairing Standard Guidelines
Landlords have to make sure that the water supply to their rental property is free from lead and does not pose a health risk to their tenants.

SafeHost will help you ensure that you are meeting these standards by coming out to do an inspection of the water supply, if no lead pipes are visible we will then take a water sample which will then be handed in to the laboratory for testing.

If The results come back from the laboratory and lead content is 10 micrograms per litre or above, this is an indicator that some lead pipes are present in the property.

This level meets the maximum allowable limit set by UK drinking water standards. If this is the case and your results are above 10 micrograms per litre, we will be in touch promptly to advise of the next steps.

Reasons why Lead Testing is Important
Lead contamination in your water supply can pose severe health issues, especially for children and pregnant women.

Lead Testing Process

• We will visit to visually inspect visible pipework, if lead is found we will help advise you on the next steps. If no lead is visible we will leave the testing bottle to be filled up first thing the following morning
• For best laboratory results, test bottle will need filled up to the top from the first draw of water from the kitchen tap. No using washing machine, dishwasher or running the taps 12 hours prior to filling up the test bottle
• Once the test bottle has been filled you can then run your water and use appliances as normal. It is important that after filling up the test bottle it is then stored in the fridge
• We will then arrange to come back to collect the test bottle which will then be handed into the laboratory for testing
• Once we receive the results from the laboratory, we will provide you with a certificate containing the results of your lead test. If results are above 10 micrograms per litre, we will be in touch promptly to advise of the next steps