WaterSafe Helps Consumers Avoid Plumbing Pitfalls after List of Hotspots for Plumber Complaints is Released

WaterSafe is offering advice to households on how to have a watertight relationship with their plumber after new research revealed the counties which top a complaints list about plumbing trades.

The research by the Water Regulation Advisory Scheme (WRAS) revealed the top 10 councils in the UK with the most complaints to their Trading Standards departments about plumbers:

• Surrey County and Buckinghamshire – 313
• Essex County – 305
• Kent County – 298
• South Lanarkshire – 270
• Norfolk County – 234
• Devon County – 207
• Stoke City – 174
• Hertfordshire County – 167
• Durham County – 144
• Gloucestershire – 140

To help flush out poor plumbers, WaterSafe, the UK register of approved plumbers, is sharing expert advice developed with Trading Standards officer John Peerless on how to find and hire a plumber.

The aim is to protect consumers from rogue traders and the consequences of sub-standard, potentially dangerous, work.

Top tips cover what you need to know before, during and after your project – from asking for priced quotations (not estimates) and checking if planning permission is needed; to dealing with problems after completion.

Using a plumber approved through the WaterSafe scheme will ensure they are fully qualified and won’t put water quality at risk with poor installation or by using sub-standard materials.

To avoid plumbing pitfalls before you get started always make sure your plumber can provide:

• A physical address
  
• A contact telephone number
  
• An established time in business
  
• Proof of insurance
  
• Their WaterSafe Registration
  
• Their Gas Safe Registration (if they work on gas systems)
  
• Their Competent Person Scheme Registration – if applicable. This means they are qualified to carry out certain types of work (such as installing a new heating system or boiler) in accordance with Building Regulations.
  

Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said: “We’ve teamed up with Trading Standards to support consumers to make better choices when planning plumbing work – we hope this will help reduce the problems that lead to complaints.

“Using a WaterSafe approved plumber provides peace of mind as all members carry agreed levels of Public Liability Insurance and operate a customer re-dress scheme if there are any disputes about the quality of the work.”

Find your nearest qualified, approved plumber online by using the WaterSafe postcode search, and for more information on finding and hiring a plumber go to watersafe.org.uk/hiringaplumber.