A Trace-First Service for Edinburgh Tenements
A leak in a tenement rarely respects the boundary of one flat. Water may appear two floors below its source; a blocked branch can back up through another home; and one internal stop valve may not isolate a shared supply. We begin by mapping the symptoms—when the leak appears, which appliances or stacks are involved, and which flats are affected—before recommending access or replacement.
That evidence-led approach matters when owners, landlords or a property factor need to agree responsibility. We can photograph the affected pipework, describe the tested section and separate an internal plumbing fault from a private shared drain or a problem that should be reported to Scottish Water.
Tenement Problems We Diagnose
- Water tracking through ceilings, cornices or shared walls
- Cracked or leaking cast-iron soil and waste stacks
- Repeated sink, bath or toilet blockages affecting several flats
- Shared supply pipes, inaccessible stop valves and weak pressure
- Mixed lead, iron, copper and plastic pipework with failing joints
- Boiler pressure loss caused by concealed heating leaks
Private Pipe, Shared Drain or Public Sewer?
Scottish Water explains that owners maintain plumbing inside the home and the private supply pipe from the property boundary, while Scottish Water maintains the communication pipe and public main. Older flats and terraces can share a supply, making maintenance a joint issue. For drainage, the private pipe runs to the property boundary; the public sewer beyond it is normally Scottish Water's responsibility.
We do not decide legal liability, but a careful diagnosis can show where the defect sits and what was tested. If a dangerous building issue involves shared waste pipework, Edinburgh Council's Shared Repairs service may also be relevant.
What to Do While Water Is Escaping
- Move possessions away and contain water only where safe.
- Close the flat's internal stop valve. If it is shared, warn neighbours before closing it.
- If water may contact wiring or a light fitting, keep clear and call an electrician; do not touch wet electrical equipment.
- Record the time, affected rooms and whether the flow changes when neighbours use water.
- Call with the stair address, floor and access details so we bring suitable equipment.
South and East Edinburgh Coverage
We focus on the areas we can reach reliably from Dalkeith: Newington, Southside, Liberton, Craigmillar, Niddrie, Gilmerton, Portobello, Joppa, Brunstane, The Inch, Moredun and nearby EH8, EH9, EH15, EH16 and EH17 streets.