Lead pipes - any experiences

[Mylady]

Going to look at a very pretty period property next week that hss just come back on the market
All the EA would say was it was due to the survey and issue with lead pipes. Anyone have any experiences ? How expensive to possibly put right ? Im a cash buyer so no problem with mortgage and wonder if i can get away with a low ball offer.

Lots of old properties have lead pipes. Ours did. We have gradually replaced with plastic.

I think the council changed ours, back in the 80's/early '90's, your council may be less generous. But before that happened, we just made sure to run the mains tap for a minute or so before using the water, to clear anything that had been sitting for a while. I made up formula bottles for two dc, they don't seem to have any brain damage as adults.

Our house has lead pipes. Never crossed my mind to make a low offer because of it and I’d be pissed off if we sell it if someone tried this.

When we bought it we contacted the water board who said it’s very unlikely that it would be a problem. After we bought it they came and did a free lead test and it was under the threshold of it being a problem. That was 16 years ago, never thought about it since.

Ask the EA if an actual test has been done. If not tell the vendor you want one? If the levels are high then ask for money off.

Hard water area - no issue, pay to replace if you want. Soft water area - needs doing.

millions of properties have lead pipes.

I take it it was serious enough for a mortgafe refusal but understand banks are very risk adverse - going to try amd get as much info as posdible at the viewing - really is the prettiest likke property tucked away in town

I can’t understand why a mortgage company would refuse a mortgage. That suggests a lead test was done so they need to show you the results before you get any further. And I can’t understand why if the results are that high that the vendors haven’t changed the pipes themselves as surely it would just happen again?

Are you sure it wasn’t just scared buyers who got cold feet because of the lead pipes and didn’t really understand that normally it’s not a big thing?

MrsJosh - no idea - just asked why it was back on tbe market - sbe said it wzs an issue from the survey - related to lead pipes. Its been newly refurbished so im am a bit bermused as well

I believe there was once an EA who told the truth.

By now, lead pipes are very liable to leak, and will probably be of small bore unable to carry water fast enough for a combi or unvented cylinder.

But replacing them is no big deal, provided you can dig a trench or mole to the watermain that is probably under the pavement in front of the house. You will want to renew the pipes inside the house as well. There might be a lead replacement subsidy or free connection from the water company.

If it's an old house converted to flats, five fields away from the road, it may be harder.

Worth checking with the water board. Thames Water changed mine all the way from the middle of the street to the point indoors where it changed to plastic.

We had ours replaced. Cost about £1k.

Ex water company employee reporting for duty.
pipes were used in properties built pre 1966. It's not generally a problem if you're in a hard water area because the limescale forms a barrier between the lead and the water.
We replaced the service pipe leading from the pavement up to the house. It cost a days digger hire to excavate the trench, a length of blue water pipe, a plumber to connect the pipe to the stop tap indoors and the water company scheduled to connect at the stop tap in the pavement. Check with your water company as to what the current regulations are with regards to pipe size and depth of the trench etc .
You'll probably benefit from improved pressure and flow if you do replace it.

Its worth remembering that gas pipes can also be lead.

"an issue with lead pipes" that's enough to make someone pull out? No wonder they're being vague.
Think about the worst issue a house that could have that might involve a lead pipe. It's probably that. They are legally obliged to tell you of any issues they know about, but they are trying not to.
Ask for a copy of the survey.

underground leak. untraceable and might be under the house.

I've had one of them.

Can i ask to see a survey somone else has had done ?

Only the house owner will be able to have authorised the survey. So they should have a copy and if they want to sell the house should be happy to show it to you. I do suspect bullshit from the EA though.