A plumbing inspection report is the written record of what a plumber found during a visit. condition of pipework, test results, defects and recommended actions. This page explains what the report needs to contain, provides a free inline checklist, and covers how firms are moving away from Word documents emailed at end of day.
A plumbing inspection report records the condition of the water systems in a building at a point in time. It tells the property owner or landlord what the plumber found, what needs attention, and how urgent each item is.
The report is not a legal certificate like a Gas Safety Record. There is no statutory form. But it serves two practical functions. First, it gives the landlord or property manager evidence that they have checked the system, relevant if a tenant reports a fault and the landlord needs to show they took reasonable steps to maintain it. Second, it gives the plumber a record of what they found and what they recommended, which protects them if the condition deteriorates after they leave.
Sole traders are the most likely to skip the report. The job is done, the problem is fixed, the invoice is sent. The record of what was found during the visit, and what was not attended to, exists only in memory. That is a weak position if a landlord later claims they were never told about an underlying problem.
A plumbing inspection report for a residential or commercial property should address the following areas systematically.
Incoming main condition, stop valve operation, water pressure at mains inlet, cold water storage tanks (where present): condition, cover, overflow outlet, and signs of contamination.
Type of system (combi, unvented cylinder, vented cylinder), cylinder condition where accessible, expansion vessel condition, pressure relief valve and discharge pipe, temperature settings and evidence of Legionella risk management.
Condition of copper and plastic pipework: corrosion, verdigris, signs of previous repair, pipe clips and supports, lagging in unheated areas, condition of flexible hoses under sinks and basins.
Compression joints showing signs of weeping, pushfit connections that are not fully engaged, solder joints with flux residue or pitting, condition of service valves on appliances.
Flow rate at basins, sinks, baths, and showers. Signs of partial blockage. Condition of traps. Odours suggesting trap failure or missing traps. External gully condition where visible.
WC flush mechanism and fill valve, condition of seals and silicone at baths, showers, and basins, signs of leakage behind panels or around appliance connections.
The biggest problem is not what goes into the report. It is when. Plumbers who fill in the report from memory at the end of the day produce weaker records than those who capture observations as they work.
A pressure reading noted at the moment of test is accurate. A pressure reading written into a Word document three hours later is a reconstruction. The difference matters when a landlord disputes whether a low-pressure problem was reported.
Vague language is the second problem. "Pipework in reasonable condition" tells nobody anything. The report should record what was found: "Compression joint on 22mm cold supply under kitchen sink showing evidence of previous weeping. joint cleaned and tightened, monitor." That sentence is useful. The first sentence is not.
The third problem is photos. Describing a defect in words is slower and less clear than a photo with a caption. Most plumbers have a phone with a camera. The discipline is attaching the photo to the record at the time of capture rather than leaving it in the camera roll.
Plumbers using Quickler complete the inspection via WhatsApp: no app install, no login. The workflow asks each checklist item in sequence. The plumber types or voice-notes the response. Pressure readings spoken as a voice note are transcribed automatically and appear in the report.
Photos taken on the phone are sent directly to the WhatsApp conversation and attached to the relevant checklist item. At the end of the inspection the PDF is generated and delivered to the client by one-click email. No retyping at the van.
For firms sending multiple plumbers to multiple properties, the dashboard shows the status of every inspection in progress. Landlords and property managers can be given read-only access to their properties: they see the report the moment it is complete, without the plumber needing to email it manually.
Landlords have a duty under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to keep in repair and proper working order the installations for water supply, drainage, and sanitation. A plumbing inspection report provides the documentary evidence that the landlord has carried out that duty.
In practice, landlords want three things from a report: a clear statement of what was found, a clear statement of what needs attention and how urgently, and something they can file against the property address for future reference. A Word document emailed from a personal Gmail account does the job legally but makes the filing and retrieval process manual. A timestamped PDF tied to the property address is easier to manage across a portfolio.
A plumbing inspection report should cover the condition of visible pipework, joints and fittings, water pressure readings, evidence of leaks or corrosion, drainage flow and condition, cold and hot water storage, and any recommended actions with a priority rating. Photos of defects should be attached.
There is no single statute that requires a plumbing inspection certificate like the Gas Safety Certificate. However, landlords have a duty under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to keep installations for water supply, drainage, and space heating in repair. A periodic plumbing inspection provides evidence of compliance with that duty.
There is no statutory interval for plumbing inspections. Most letting agents recommend an inspection every five years for older properties and on change of tenancy. Properties with lead pipework, poor water pressure history, or known drainage issues warrant more frequent checks.
Yes. Pressure readings are best captured at the moment of test rather than written up afterwards. Plumbers using Quickler speak readings into WhatsApp as voice notes during the workflow. The system transcribes them automatically and they appear in the report.
Copy and paste this into the workflow description when you sign up at app.quickler.co/signup:
Plumbing inspection report — copy and paste this at signup: Workflow name: Plumbing inspection Questions: 1. Plumber name and date? 2. Client name and property address? 3. Reason for inspection? 4. Boiler — make, model, condition, service date? (photo of data plate) 5. Hot and cold supply — adequate pressure, no discolouration? (yes/no) 6. Visible pipework — any corrosion, leaks or damage? (yes/no + photo + location) 7. Radiators — all heating, any airlocks or cold spots? (yes/no) 8. Sanitary ware — condition, no leaks at joints? (yes/no + photo) 9. Drainage — all outlets free-flowing? (yes/no) 10. Stopcock accessible and operable? (yes/no + location note) 11. Any urgent remedial work required? (description + photo) 12. Plumber signature?
Quickler reads your description and builds the WhatsApp question sequence. Your engineers answer on site. PDF produced automatically.
Start plumbing reports →Quickler runs through WhatsApp. No app install. Setup to first live workflow in under a week.