How much do you know about the Repairing Standard in Scotland?
April 1, 2025
SNIPEF Member Celsius Plumbing and Heating has carried out dozens of lead tests for Scottish landlords, following the introduction of the Repairing Standard in Scotland.
Director Michael Cairns sat down with WaterSafe to explain what installers, landlords and tenants need to know about the new standard - and why the firm has signed up to our lead-free solder pledge.
What is the new Repairing Standard?
Under the Repairing Standard guidelines, introduced in March 2024, Scottish landlords must ensure their property doesn’t pose a risk to tenant health.
The standard includes several requirements relating to plumbing and heating, including:
- Making sure there is an adequate supply of wholesome drinking water and hot water from pipes that are safe and free from damage, suitable toilet and bathing facilities and an effective drainage system.
- The property should be free of lead pipes from the boundary to the kitchen tap – and if this can’t be visually confirmed, a water quality test must be carried out in a laboratory
- Gas, electricity and water supplies must be in good working order, and the heating system should be able to maintain a reasonable temperature.
These standards are designed to ensure that rental properties are safe, comfortable, and meet basic living requirements.
What does your lead testing service involve?
We offer a four-step lead testing process, which can be completed in as little as a fortnight.
- We complete a visual inspection of the property’s water pipes. If lead is found, we’ll advise landlords of their next steps in writing and no test will be completed until the lead pipes or tank(s) are removed. If no visible lead is found, our plumber will leave a water testing bottle for the tenants to fill the next morning.
- Our plumber will remove the test bottle from the fridge, label it and complete the necessary paperwork before delivering it to the laboratory
- Once the results are back, we will provide the landlord with a certificate from the laboratory which can be used to demonstrate compliance with the standard, if no lead is detected
- If the sample or visual inspection fails the test, we will advise landlords on the best next steps.
How common is lead in drinking water?
The Drinking Water Quality Regulator (DWQR) reports less than 0.4% of all domestic properties sampled in 2023 had more than 10 micrograms of lead, the legal quality standard for lead in drinking water.
The City of Edinburgh Council Scientific Services, which tests our customers’ water samples, say only about 5% of tests for rented homes exceeded the 10-microgram threshold since the repairing standard was introduced. It considers a sample result under 1.1 micrograms per litre to be lead-free.
10 micrograms per litre is a tiny amount – equivalent to a grain of sugar in a cup of tea – but drinking water regulators and public health experts agree there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Even a small amount of lead can accumulate in the body over time and cause health problems, particularly in young children and pregnant women.
For this reason, the new repairing standard states landlords must eliminate all sources of lead in their drinking water.
Where does the lead come from?
In most properties we tested, lead was found in the communal supply pipe connecting the property’s internal plumbing to the external stop tap. The property owner is responsible for this pipe, and the plumbing inside the building.
Because the City of Edinburgh Council offered grants to landlords to modernise properties in the 80s and 90s, many would have replaced any internal lead pipe with copper or plastic pipe. However, we see lead pipes and water tanks in some properties and, more rarely, lead solder.
Although it’s illegal to use lead solder in drinking water, some plumbers carry it for gas work and may accidentally use it on potable water. At Celsius Plumbing, we only carry and use lead-free solder and have signed WaterSafe’s lead- free solder campaign to demonstrate our commitment.
Can landlords use a lead filter?
This may be suitable if the landlord has replaced all lead pipes in their property and lead is only found in the communal service pipe which carries water from the external stop tap to the internal stop tap.
Why do you support WaterSafe’s lead-free solder campaign?
We support WaterSafe’s lead-free solder campaign because our plumbers never carry or use lead solder. It’s so easy to use lead-free for plumbing and heating repairs. Our message to installers who use lead solder on heating systems is “Don’t take the risk”. It’s so easy to get the two mixed up, with potentially disastrous consequences.
What role do installers play in helping customers stay up-to-date with legislation?
Plumbers and installers play a crucial role in advising customers on legislation – it can be hard for landlords, and residents, to keep track of changes so trusted plumbers can help fill that knowledge gap. Customers are often impressed we’re members of SNIPEF and WaterSafe, it shows we’re competent and qualified, so being an approved contractor helps demonstrate our trustworthiness.
You can book a test online or read more about the new lead standard at celsiusplumbers.com/landlord-safety-checks/lead-testing/.
Opt in to WaterSafe
If you’re a plumber in Northern Ireland or Scotland registered with SNIPEF, you are eligible to join WaterSafe at no extra cost. Eligible members must opt to sign up for WaterSafe – you will not automatically be registered.
Contact Leslie Fox on 0131 357 2440 or email schemes@snipef.org for more information. For more information about WaterSafe and its benefits, visit watersafe.org.uk/howtojoin
This story and many more feature in the Spring issue of PlumbHeat, read the full magazine here
