# How much does lead pipe replacement cost?

> Lead pipe replacement costs £600–£1,500 in Nottinghamshire for your side, and the water company can replace its side and reconnect you free. How it works.

URL: https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/lead-pipe-replacement-cost/

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Decision Guide

# How much does lead pipe replacement cost?

[Notts Leak Detection](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/) sets out what replacing a lead supply pipe costs locally, what the water company pays for, and how to check whether your pipe is lead.

Published 28 September 2026 · Updated 28 September 2026 · By Notts Leak Detection

**Short answer:** Lead pipe replacement in Nottinghamshire is listed at £600–£1,500 for the homeowner's side, depending on length, depth and surface. Under Severn Trent's Lead Replacement Scheme, once your side is replaced, it can give you a free new connection and replace its own lead up to the boundary.

Lead pipe replacement cost splits at the boundary. You pay to replace the lead supply pipe inside your property. Under Severn Trent‘s [Lead Replacement Scheme](https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-supply/tap-water/my-water-pipes/lead-replacement-scheme/), the water company replaces its lead up to the boundary and gives a free new connection, once your side is done and your home meets its criteria.

## Local prices

Job

Price

Source

Lead pipe replacement (Nottinghamshire)

£600–£1,500

[Checkatrade](https://www.checkatrade.com/Search/Lead-Pipe/in/Nottinghamshire)

Moling a new pipe (Nottinghamshire)

£1,200–£3,000+

[Checkatrade](https://www.checkatrade.com/Search/Lead-Pipe/in/Nottinghamshire)

Supply pipe replacement (Nottingham quotes)

£388–£598

[hamuch](https://www.hamuch.com/cost/mains-water-supply/nottingham)

Water company’s side

Free under the scheme

[Severn Trent](https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-supply/tap-water/my-water-pipes/lead-replacement-scheme/)

## What moves the price

Factor

Effect

Length from boundary to house

Longer runs cost more, whichever method is used

Surface

Lawn is cheapest; drives and patios cost more to reinstate unless moled

Method

Trench across soft ground, mole under hard surfaces

Inside connection

Where the pipe comes up into the house and how easy the stop tap is to reach

Shared supply

Severn Trent requires a WaterSafe plumber, and every household must agree

Think your pipe might be lead?

Tell us the age of the house and where the stop tap is, and we'll advise before any visit.

0115 839 0791 (+441158390791)

## How the scheme works in practice

The order matters. Your new pipe goes in first, laid 750mm–1,350mm deep under the [Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148). Severn Trent says the new connection can take up to 16 weeks, and the trench shouldn’t be backfilled before any inspection it requires. Checking the current criteria before digging avoids reopening a trench.

## Getting the timing right

The sequence that keeps costs down is: confirm the pipe is lead, check your home meets the scheme criteria, apply, then lay your new pipe. Leave the trench or pits open if an inspection is required, then have your side connected. If the old lead pipe is leaking badly in the meantime, a temporary repair can stop the loss while you wait for the reconnection date.

On a shared supply, Severn Trent requires the work to be done by a WaterSafe plumber. Severn Trent says Victorian terraces usually share one supply pipe, pre-1940s semis often do, and many council estates were built with one large pipe along the backs of the houses, so shared lead supplies are common in older streets.

## Why not just repair a leaking lead pipe?

You can, and it will stop that leak. But a lead pipe old enough to leak in one place is the same age everywhere else. A repair also leaves the lead in place, so you miss out on the free reconnection. The full job is covered under [lead pipe replacement](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/lead-pipe-replacement/).

## Bottom line

Budget £600–£1,500 for your side, check the scheme criteria before you start, and allow up to 16 weeks for the free reconnection. Moling can keep the cost down where the pipe runs under a drive. Call 0115 839 0791 (+441158390791), 9am–7pm, 7 days.

## Questions people also ask

### How do I know if my water pipe is lead?

Check the pipe where it enters the house, usually at the kitchen stop tap. Lead is dull grey and soft, shows bright silver when gently scratched with a coin, and doesn't ring when tapped. Homes built before 1970 are the most likely to have it.

### Does the water company pay for any of it?

Yes, its own side. Under the [Lead Replacement Scheme](https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-supply/tap-water/my-water-pipes/lead-replacement-scheme/), Severn Trent replaces lead up to the boundary and gives a free new connection once you replace yours. You pay for the pipe inside your boundary.

### Can I replace just the leaking part of a lead pipe?

You can, and a repair stops that leak. But the rest of the pipe is the same age, and a patched lead pipe doesn't qualify you for the free reconnection. See [lead pipe replacement](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/lead-pipe-replacement/).

Related service

[Lead Pipe Replacement](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/lead-pipe-replacement/)

Replace the lead pipe inside your boundary so Severn Trent can reconnect you free under its Lead Replacement Scheme.

[View service](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/lead-pipe-replacement/)

Talk it through

Lines open Monday–Sunday, 9am–7pm.

0115 839 0791 (+441158390791)

## More guides

-   [Decision Guide How much does water supply pipe replacement cost?](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/water-supply-pipe-replacement-cost/)
-   [Decision Guide How much does moling a water pipe cost?](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/moling-water-pipe-cost/)
-   [Learn Who is responsible for the water supply pipe?](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/who-is-responsible-for-water-supply-pipe/)
-   [Decision Guide How much does leak detection cost in Nottingham?](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/leak-detection-cost/)
