Lead pipes found after assured they don't exist

Rushmore

Hey all

I think I know the answer to this but was hoping for a second (and third) opinion...

Bought a house last June and survey said 'might have lead pipes'. Contacted plumber to go and find and quote for sorting lead pipes to which had verbal reply of "looked and couldn't find any". Bought house.

Now 9 months later we by accident find we do have lead pipes. It is lead piping right up to stopcock which some googling reveals is the first place you should look. In this intervening 9 months, my wife has been pregnant for 6 of them and our son has been around for the remaining 3. Lead in water is very very bad for pregnant women and small children.

Does the plumber who told us 'no lead pipes' have any legal responsibility in this? It's going to cost a fortune to sort the lead, plus we're both now very upset at the damage we may have caused our son.

Any thoughts gratefully accepted

Nick

G_M

Rushmore wrote: »

Hey all

..... had verbal reply of "looked and couldn't find any".
....

Does the plumber who told us 'no lead pipes' have any legal responsibility in this?

Nick

Which did he say? Did he give a written undertaking?

Did you ask him to quote for work, or to provide a report on the piping?

anselld

Loads of properties still have lead pipes. It is not a big deal.
The water does not stand in the pipes long enough to become contaminated. Run the water for a few minutes if you have been away on holiday, etc.

McKneff

Big difference between


'looked and couldn't find any' and 'no lead pipes'


and also


What 'may' have happened to your son and what 'did' happen to your son.


Most solicitors will give you half an hour free consultation.

Rushmore

G_M wrote: »

Which did he say? Did he give a written undertaking?

Did you ask him to quote for work, or to provide a report on the piping?

We asked him to quote for replacing the lead piping (which I have in writing). He verbally told me he couldn't quote as he couldn't find any evidence of lead piping.

I'm guessing this means we don't have a leg to stand on, but wanted to check. You learn a lot buying first house...

Big_Tree

Apply for the 'lead pipe replacement scheme' through your water supply company, it's free.

verulamium

We also have lead piping in our house.

If, like us, you live in a hard water region, the limescale build up in the pipe will prevent the lead from dissolving in the water. As a precaution, draw off a bowl of water every morning if there are standing water in the pipes overnight.

anselld

Rushmore wrote: »

We asked him to quote for replacing the lead piping (which I have in writing). He verbally told me he couldn't quote as he couldn't find any evidence of lead piping.

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence!

silvercar

verulamium wrote: »

We also have lead piping in our house.

If, like us, you live in a hard water region, the limescale build up in the pipe will prevent the lead from dissolving in the water. As a precaution, draw off a bowl of water every morning if there are standing water in the pipes overnight.

^^^ This. Or, if you are really concerned, fit a reverse osmosis filter.

[Deleted User]

My pipe under my garden between the water meter and internal stop tap is lead. I can't say I've had any problems yet.

jaymidlands

millions of people havent had any side effects for all the lead pipes in older houses all them years ago..