Private water supplies: what landlords need to know

Why letting changes things

A supply that serves only the owner’s own home is lightly regulated. A supply to a rented home is a supply used for a commercial activity, so the local council has duties to check it, and the landlord, as the person responsible for the supply, has to act on what the council finds.

What the council does

The council can charge for each of these, within limits set by the regulations.

• A risk assessment of the supply, from the source to the tap, at least every five years
• Sampling and testing of the water, at a frequency set by the supply’s size and risk
• Investigation if a sample fails, and a notice requiring work if the water is a risk to health

What the landlord does

• Tell the council about the supply if it does not already know
• Keep any treatment, such as UV units and filters, serviced and working
• Protect the source: the borehole head, the spring chamber and storage tanks
• Act on a notice within the time it gives, and tell tenants if the water is not safe to drink
• Keep records of servicing, tests and the risk assessment

Legionella as well

Separately, landlords must assess the risk of legionella in the water system of a let home. Stored water, long pipe runs and outbuildings left empty are typical risks on older rural properties.

Keeping track

TenantTool keeps a borehole or pump as one of the estate’s assets, with its checks, such as the water quality test and the legionella check, each with a due date and the reports filed with it. The council’s risk assessment can be tracked against the cottages it serves.

Where this applies

This guide covers England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so check the requirements for where your property is.