A plumbing inspection report records the condition of a building's water systems at a single point in time. It tells the landlord what the plumber found, what needs attention, and how urgent each item is. Get the discipline right and that record protects everyone. Get it wrong and the only evidence lives in someone's memory.
Template · Plumbing
Plumbing inspection reports done right.
A plumbing inspection report records what a plumber found on site: pipework condition, pressure results, defects and recommended actions. Here is what it must cover and how to capture it.
Free forever: 20 reports a month. No card, no trial clock.
Why it matters
Evidence, not memory
A plumbing report is not a legal certificate, but it gives the landlord evidence the system was checked and gives the plumber a record of what they found and recommended. Sole traders skip it most often, leaving the record only in memory. That is a weak position if a fault is later disputed.
What to record
Cover every system
- 1
Supply and heat
Cold water supply, stop valve and mains pressure; hot water type, cylinder, expansion vessel and relief valve.
- 2
Pipework and joints
Corrosion, lagging, flexible hoses, and joints showing weeping or previous leakage.
- 3
Drainage and ware
Flow rates, traps, odours, WC mechanisms, seals and signs of leakage behind panels.
Common failures
Timing, vagueness, photos
A pressure reading noted at the moment of test is accurate; one written up three hours later is a reconstruction. Vague phrases like pipework in reasonable condition tell nobody anything. Photos with captions beat written descriptions, if you attach them at the time rather than leaving them in the camera roll.
How Quickler helps
Capture by voice, PDF same day
Plumbers complete the inspection via WhatsApp: no app, no login. Voice-note pressure readings transcribe automatically, photos attach to the right item, and the PDF is delivered to the client by one-click email.
The short version
- A good plumbing inspection report template uk covers visible pipework, joints, pressure, drainage, and cold and hot water systems.
- Landlords need evidence of plumbing maintenance under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and a landlord plumbing report provides it.
- It is not a legal certificate like a Gas Safety Record, but it carries real evidential weight.
- Capture pressure test results at the moment of test, never reconstructed from memory hours later.
- Photos attached to the record are more defensible than written descriptions alone.
- Work through a plumbing inspection checklist in sequence so nothing is skipped.
Why it matters
Evidence, not memory
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 checked the system, which matters if a tenant reports a fault and the landlord must show they took reasonable steps to maintain it. Second, it gives the plumber a record of what they found and recommended, which protects them if the condition deteriorates after they leave.
Sole traders are the most likely to skip it. The job is done, the problem is fixed, the invoice is sent. The record of what was found, and what was not attended to, then exists only in memory. That is a weak position if a landlord later claims they were never told about an underlying problem.
What to record
Cover every system
A solid plumbing report template works through each area systematically. Cold water supply: incoming main condition, stop valve operation, mains pressure, and storage tanks where present, including cover, overflow and signs of contamination. Hot water: system type (combi, unvented or vented cylinder), cylinder and expansion vessel condition, pressure relief valve and discharge pipe, temperature settings and evidence of Legionella risk management.
Visible pipework: corrosion, verdigris, previous repairs, clips and supports, lagging in unheated areas, and flexible hoses under sinks. Joints: compression joints weeping, pushfit not fully engaged, solder joints with flux residue or pitting. Drainage: flow rates, traps, odours and partial blockages. Sanitary ware: WC flush and fill valve, silicone seals, and leakage behind panels.
Common failures
Timing, vagueness, photos
The biggest problem is not what goes into the report. It is when. 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 fault was reported.
Vague language is the second problem. "Pipework in reasonable condition" tells nobody anything. Compare it to: "Compression joint on 22mm cold supply under kitchen sink showing evidence of previous weeping; cleaned and tightened, monitor." One sentence is useful. The other is filler. The third problem is photos. A photo with a caption beats a written description every time, and most plumbers already carry a camera. The discipline is attaching it to the record at the time of capture rather than leaving it in the camera roll.
What landlords need
Section 11 and the paper trail
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 they want three things: 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. A Word document emailed from a personal Gmail account does the job legally but makes filing and retrieval manual. A timestamped PDF tied to the property address is far easier to manage across a portfolio. A clean plumber inspection form uk also reads the same way every time, so nothing important slips between visits.
How Quickler helps
Capture by voice, PDF same day
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 transcribe automatically and appear in the report. Photos taken on the phone go straight to the conversation and attach to the relevant item.
At the end the PDF is generated and delivered to the client by one-click email. No retyping at the van. For firms running multiple plumbers across multiple properties, the dashboard shows every inspection in progress. Landlords and property managers can be given read-only access to their properties, so they see the report the moment it is complete. See our field reporting software and paperless inspections guides.
Questions, answered
What should a plumbing inspection report include?
It 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.
Are plumbing inspections a legal requirement for landlords?
There is no single statute requiring a plumbing inspection certificate like the Gas Safety Record. 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 inspection provides evidence of compliance.
How often should a plumbing inspection be carried out?
There is no statutory interval. 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.
Can a plumber record pressure test results by voice note?
Yes. 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, and the system transcribes them automatically. See our inspection report template guide.