The repairing standard requires Landlords to ensure that from 1st March 2024 the water supply in their private rented property is free of lead pipes, lead lined storage tanks and fittings from the boundary stopcock to the kitchen tap. This will mean additional testing requirements for some Landlords. Scottish Water explain that properties built prior to 1970 could have lead pipe work. Therefore if your property is older than 1970 construction or around this date we would recommend having lead testing carried out. Although lead piping and tanks are only likely to be present in older buildings prior to 1970, some plumbers were still using lead solder until relatively recently. To combat this, it was a requirement from around 2000, to a couple of years ago, for all new build properties in Edinburgh to be tested to prove the absence of lead in the water supply, as part of the Habitation Certificate, therefore properties from this period wouldn’t need testing. Other councils may have a slightly different approach to the issue of lead solder, therefore newer build properties from this period outside of Edinburgh may not have already had Lead Testing in a similar way. Please check with your local council for further clarification on their requirement on newer properties. If a Landlord is uncertain whether there are lead pipes, or are aware of a risk, tenants must be informed and water samples taken for laboratory analysis as this is the only way to properly test whether the water is lead free.

We can attend your rental property taking the sample of your drinking water using our lab approved sample bottles then arrange for the Laboratory to carry out a suitable lead in water analysis for you. Once this has been done and the results are available a certificate of analysis will be issued stating the Lead test results. Lead Testing results need to be under 10 micrograms per litre to be considered a pass as this is the current drinking water quality minimum standard.

If lead is present above the acceptable levels in your Lead Testing sample then the Landlord would be responsible for locating and removing any lead pipes within the rental property. Scottish Water would investigate any part of their water supply. Short-term precautionary advice to tenants should also be given such as not drinking water that has been standing in pipes for long periods and drawing off water to clear any water which has been standing in the pipes before using it for drinking or cooking. Once the lead pipework has been replaced, Lead Water Testing needs to be carried out again to ensure levels are now at an acceptable level.