Low water pressure: is it your landlord's problem?

If the water pressure in your rented home is so low that the shower barely trickles or filling a bath takes a very long time, you may wonder whether your landlord is responsible for fixing it. The answer depends on the cause. Below, we set out when your landlord must act and what you can do.

Is low water pressure a repair your landlord must fix?

It depends on where the problem comes from.

If the low pressure is caused by a defect within the property, for example, a blocked or corroded pipe, a faulty pressure reducing valve, or damage to the internal supply system, then this is a repair your landlord must carry out. Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the landlord is responsible for keeping in repair and proper working order the installations for the supply of water. A supply system that fails to deliver water at reasonable pressure is not in proper working order.

If the low pressure comes from the mains supply outside the property, this is generally the water company's responsibility. Your landlord cannot control the mains pressure, and you would need to contact your water supplier directly.

In practice, many cases of persistently low pressure within a property have an internal cause, a partially closed stopcock, a failing pressure regulator, a build-up of limescale or debris in old pipes, or a poorly designed installation. These are all things the landlord must address.

How to find out the cause

If you are experiencing low pressure:

Check the stopcock. The main internal stopcock is usually under the sink or in a cupboard. If it has been accidentally turned to reduce flow, this could cause the problem. Do not turn it yourself, inform the landlord.

Check whether the pressure is low everywhere or only in some places. If only the shower has low pressure but the kitchen tap is fine, the problem may be at the shower itself (a blocked showerhead, a failing shower pump, or a defective thermostatic valve). If low pressure affects all taps, the issue is more likely with the supply system.

Contact your water supplier. You can call your water supplier and ask whether there are known pressure problems in your area. If there are, the issue is external and the landlord is not responsible for it.

What to do

Report the problem in writing. Write to your landlord or letting agent and explain the problem, where it occurs, how bad it is, and how long it has been happening. Keep a copy.

Ask the landlord to investigate. The landlord should arrange for a plumber to inspect the system to identify the cause. If the cause turns out to be internal, the landlord must carry out the repair.

Escalate if needed. If the landlord does not investigate or act, contact your council's environmental health team. The HHSRS assessment includes water supply adequacy. A persistent failure of water supply pressure can be assessed as a hazard.

Can you claim compensation for low water pressure?

Persistent low water pressure that makes it difficult to use the shower or bath as intended is a loss of amenity. If the problem was caused by an internal defect that the landlord knew about and failed to fix, you may be able to claim compensation as part of a housing disrepair claim.

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

If your landlord has failed to address a water pressure problem caused by a defect in the property's pipework or supply system, we may be able to help.

Call us on 0800 030 4669. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.

Sources

• Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)

Sources

• Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) guidance (GOV.UK)

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