Got a Thames Water Leak Notice? Here’s What to Do.
You have 4 weeks from the date of notification to fix the leak. After that, Thames Water can repair it themselves — at their rates — and charge you. A Section 75 Water Industry Act notice is then placed on your property record.
Call ERL now. Same-day attendance across Zones 1–3. Acoustic detection, supply pipe repair, and complete documentation for your Thames Water leak allowance claim.
Landline 0207 046 1363 • WhatsApp 07456 975436 • Co. No. 17120057
The 4-week clock runs from the date Thames Water notified you — not from when you booked a plumber or discovered the problem. If the letter is already a week old, you have 3 weeks left. Every day you wait narrows your window and increases the risk of a Section 75 enforcement notice.
Your 4-Step Action Plan
Do this in order. Do it today.
Why the 4-week deadline matters
Thames Water’s enforcement power under Section 75 of the Water Industry Act 1991 is real and regularly used. The four-week window is not a suggestion — it is a statutory deadline with significant financial and legal consequences if you miss it.
- Thames Water can serve a Section 75 notice (Water Industry Act 1991) if you don't fix within 4 weeks.
- After a Section 75 notice, Thames Water carries out the repair themselves and recovers the full cost from you.
- Thames Water's own repair rates are typically much higher than a private contractor's.
- The 4-week clock runs from when Thames Water notified YOU — not from when you discover the problem.
- Missing the deadline also disqualifies you from the Thames Water leak allowance rebate.
What happens if you miss the deadline
| Scenario | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Fix within 4 weeks | You control the repair cost + eligible for leak allowance |
| Fix after 4 weeks | No leak allowance + Thames Water may still enforce |
| Don't fix — Section 75 served | Thames Water repairs at own rates, charges you, Section 75 on property record |
| Don't fix — enforcement action | Thames Water can disconnect supply until repaired |
What the Thames Water notification means
Thames Water’s meters record flow 24 hours a day. Overnight — typically between 1am and 5am when no taps should be running — they detect minimum night flow for each metered property. A constant flow during that window means water is moving somewhere in the system when nothing is on.
- Thames Water's meters detect overnight flow — water running when no taps are on.
- They trace the flow to your supply pipe: the MDPE or lead pipe between your boundary stop tap and your internal stop tap.
- This pipe is your responsibility under the Water Regulations 1999 — not Thames Water's.
- Thames Water does NOT repair private supply pipes. That is always the homeowner's cost.
- What Thames Water CAN do is enforce the 4-week deadline and carry out the repair at your expense if you do not.
Thames Water leak allowance — the upside of acting fast
Once you have repaired the leak within the 4-week window, you are entitled to apply for the Thames Water leak allowance — a rebate on the water bill cost of the water that was lost. This is a real, often substantial refund.
To qualify for the allowance, you must:
- Be on a water meter (not a rateable value tariff).
- Have fixed the leak within the 4-week notification window.
- Submit the claim to Thames Water within 3 months of the repair date.
The allowance covers the cost of water lost — not the repair costs themselves. On a large leak running for several months before detection, the allowance can be worth hundreds of pounds. Thames Water calculates the refund based on the difference between your metered consumption and your normal usage history.
ERL provides the repair documentation Thames Water requires for the claim — date of repair, method, pipe type, engineer details and job reference. We hand this to you on completion of the repair.
Pricing — detection and repair within the 4-week window
All prices are fixed — confirmed before work starts, not after. No VAT surprises, no parking surcharges.
| Service | Scope | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency detection survey (same-day) | Acoustic + ground microphone, Zones 1–3, within 60–120 min. | £280–£420 |
| Supply pipe patch repair | Excavate to located leak, copper/MDPE repair fitting. 4-week deadline met. | £380–£580 |
| Mole-and-replace under driveway | Directional bore under block paving, new MDPE run, minimal surface disturbance. | £680–£1,200 |
| Full supply pipe replacement | New MDPE from boundary stop to internal stop, full excavation. | £1,200–£2,800 |
| Internal plumbing leak repair | Copper/plastic pipe repair inside property. | £180–£480 |
| Trace & access insurance report | ABI-format written report for insurance claim. | +£100 |
* Prices include VAT. Fixed price confirmed on the call — no open-ended billing.
Why choose ERL for your Thames Water leak notice?
- Same-day detection and repair — keep comfortably within the 4-week window even if you call today.
- No find no fee guarantee — survey is free if we cannot locate the leak.
- We provide complete repair documentation for your Thames Water leak allowance claim.
- Mole-and-replace under driveways — no driveway excavation on most jobs.
- Fixed price quoted before work starts — no open-ended billing.
Frequently asked questions
I got a letter from Thames Water about a leak — what does it mean?
What is a Section 75 Water Industry Act 1991 notice?
Can Thames Water cut off my water supply over a leak?
How long do I have to fix the leak?
What is the Thames Water leak allowance?
Do I need to notify Thames Water when the repair is done?
How quickly can ERL respond?
Fix the leak. Meet the deadline. Claim the allowance.
Same-day detection and repair across Zones 1–3. Fixed price before work starts. Complete documentation for your Thames Water leak allowance claim. Don’t let the deadline pass.
Fully insured £5M PL • No find no fee • Section 75 deadline specialists • Co. No. 17120057
Service area
Service Area — All London Boroughs
Same-day attendance across Zones 1–3 — typically 60–120 minutes from your call. Outer zones attended same day or next morning. Thames Water leak notices are urgent: we prioritise them.
Call ERL now — before the deadline passes
Same-day detection and repair. Fixed price before work starts. Thames Water leak allowance documentation included. Section 75 is avoidable — call today.