Water spraying from a split joint on a black water pipe

Burst pipes in London

Burst pipe repair in London

If a pipe bursts, turn off your stop tap by turning it clockwise, switch off electrics near the water, turn off the boiler and open the cold taps to drain the pipes. A plumber then cuts out the damaged section and fits a proper repair. In flats, check whether the pipe serves your home or the building.

Is it an emergency?

Photo for illustration

Burst pipes: tap what is happening

You see what to do right now, then send it through.

01Right now
02Your home
03Call back

Step 1

Right now

What is happening right now?

You need this when

If any of these is happening now, turn the water off at the stop tap first.

Burst pipes

Water spraying or pouring from a pipe or joint
A sudden wet patch on a ceiling, wall or floor
Water pressure has dropped and you can hear running water
A pipe in a loft, cupboard or outside wall split after frost
Your water meter keeps turning with every tap off
Thames Water has written to say they detect a leak

Step by step

What happens from the first message to the written note at the end.

1
Confirm the water is off
We check your stop tap has actually closed. Old valves often only slow the water. If yours will not shut, we isolate it another way.
2
Find the burst
Some bursts are obvious. Others are under floorboards or behind boxing, and the water shows up somewhere else. We trace it back to the source.
3
Cut out and replace
The damaged section is cut out and replaced with new pipe and fittings, rather than wrapped or clamped and left.
4
Refill and test
We turn the water back on slowly, bleed air out, check every joint we touched and look for any second split from the same frost or knock.
5
Advice to stop it happening again
If the pipe froze, we show you where it needs lagging. If it was an old lead or corroded pipe, we tell you what else in the run may be at risk.

Why pipes burst in London homes

Most bursts fall into three groups. Frost: pipes in unheated lofts, under suspended floors, in outside walls and to outside taps freeze, the ice expands and the pipe splits. It often only leaks when it thaws. Age: older London houses can still have lead or early copper pipework, and joints made decades ago eventually let go. Damage: a nail through a floorboard, a kitchen fitter's drill, or a pipe that has rubbed against a joist for years.

Thames Water's advice during the January 2026 cold snap was that pipes leading to outside taps, in unheated lofts, garages and utility rooms, or running along cold outside walls are the most at risk, and that burst pipes on private property are the homeowner's responsibility.

Many London terraces and mansion blocks were plumbed long before plastic pipe. Thames Water says homes built before 1970 may still have lead pipes, and it runs a lead pipe replacement scheme for eligible properties. Lead and early copper are softer and older, and joints made with old solder or compression fittings can fail after decades of heat, cold and movement in timber floors.

If one old joint has gone, it is worth asking the plumber to look along the rest of the run while the floor is up. It is cheaper to replace a short tired section now than to come back for the next leak.

Your pipe, the building's pipe or Thames Water's

Thames Water owns the water main and the short communication pipe to your boundary. From the boundary into your home, the supply pipe is yours, as is every pipe inside. If the supply is shared with neighbours, which is common in London terraces, the households served share responsibility for the shared section.

In a block of flats, a burst on the rising main or a pipe that serves several flats is usually the freeholder's to repair, while a pipe serving only your flat is usually yours. Leases vary, so check yours. If the burst is in the road or pavement, report it to Thames Water instead.

Temporary fixes and why they are only temporary

If you are stuck waiting, a towel wrapped tightly around a small split and a bucket underneath can slow the damage once the water is off. Repair clamps and tape from a DIY shop can hold a pinhole for a short time.

None of these are a repair. A proper fix means cutting out the damaged pipe and fitting new pipe and joints. Insurers may also ask what was done, and a clamped pipe that fails again can cause a second claim.

Insurance and the four week rule

Most home insurance covers escape of water from a burst pipe, though policies differ and there is usually an excess. Insurers expect you to take reasonable steps to stop the water and limit damage, so turn it off, photograph the damage and keep the plumber's written note.

If Thames Water confirms a leak on your property, it says you must arrange a repair within four weeks. If you do, you may be able to claim an allowance for the water lost. If you do not, it can carry out the repair and charge you under Section 75 of the Water Industry Act 1991.

No prices online

Every job is priced after a look at it, by photo or a visit, and agreed before work starts.

What affects the price

The cost depends on where the burst is, how much needs opening up to reach it, the pipe material and how much pipe is damaged. We price it once we can see it.

What	Price
Accessible burst on exposed pipework	price confirmed after a look at the job
Burst under floorboards or behind boxing	quote on survey
Burst on a shared or underground supply pipe	quote on survey
Replacing old lead or corroded pipe runs	quote on survey

No prices are shown on this site. Every job is priced after a look at it, by photo or a visit.

Asked questions

What do I do first if a pipe bursts?

Turn the stop tap clockwise to shut off the water, switch off electrics near the leak, turn off the boiler and open the cold taps to drain the system. Then contain the water and call a plumber.

Is a burst pipe in my garden my responsibility?

Usually yes. Thames Water says the supply pipe from your property boundary into your home is the homeowner's, including the part under the garden or driveway.

My stop tap will not turn. What now?

Do not force it with a wrench, as old valves can snap. Look for isolation valves on the pipe near the leak, or the outside stop tap under the cover on the path. If neither works, tell us when you call.

Can a burst pipe be repaired the same day?

Many can, once the pipe is reachable. Bursts under floors, in shared pipework or needing another flat's access may be made safe first and finished on a second visit.