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, 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 |
| Moling a new pipe (Nottinghamshire) | £1,200–£3,000+ | Checkatrade |
| Supply pipe replacement (Nottingham quotes) | £388–£598 | hamuch |
| Water company’s side | Free under the scheme | Severn Trent |
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.
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. 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.
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, 9am–7pm, 7 days.