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Volume 4
Chapter 9 Sink With Hot & Cold Water
9.1. A house meets the tolerable standard if it has a sink provided with a satisfactory supply of both hot and cold water within the house
Introduction
9.2. Every house should have a sink supplied with both hot and cold water. This is one of the more straightforward elements of the tolerable standard. This chapter will help assessors focus on what to look for when making the assessment.
9.3. This element of the tolerable standard overlaps with other chapters of this guidance, particularly foul water, wholesome water, WC, fixed bath/shower with wash-hand basin, and facilities for cooking food. Those using the tolerable standard should bear in mind the advice in the other chapters when assessing a house on this element.
Legislation
9.4. The tolerable standard has always included the requirement for there to be a sink with a satisfactory supply of hot and cold water. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 did not change this element of the standard.
Definitions
9.5. Sink: This refers to any type of fixed sink, permanently connected to an appropriate drainage pipe. The purpose of a sink is distinct from that of a wash-hand basin. A sink is used mainly for cleaning food during preparation, and for washing dishes and utensils used to prepare and consume food.
9.6. Satisfactory supply of hot & cold water: The sink should have a fixed tap or taps capable of delivering both hot and cold water. The water may emerge from two separate taps or from a single mixer type tap. A hot water storage tank, or an instantaneous water heater, will normally provide the hot water.
9.7. Within the house: It is important that the sink is located within the main living part of the house. The occupants should not need to go outside to access it and it should not be located in an out-house or garden shed. They should not need to go through another person's house to access it and it should not be located in an area used in common with the occupants of another house. In addition, the sink should not be located in a garage, even where this is adjoined to the house.
Making the assessment
9.8. The flow-chart below will help guide an assessor through the process of determining whether the house meets the tolerable standard, having a sink with a satisfactory supply of hot and cold water:
9.9. An assessor should consider the following information in trying to answer each of these questions:
Is there a sink in the house?
9.10. An assessor should look for the main sink inside the house. Where a house has more than one sink, an assessor should look to identify one that meets the tolerable standard. In most cases the main sink will be in the kitchen, but some houses may have the sink in another location. This does not necessarily mean the house is below tolerable standard. An assessor should consider the appropriateness of the location of the sink and make a judgement on that basis. For example, a house with the main sink located in a bedroom or bathroom is normally below tolerable standard.
9.11. A house without a sink is below tolerable standard.
Is there provision for a supply of hot & cold water at the sink?
9.12. The easiest way to check if there is a satisfactory supply of hot and cold water is to turn on the tap. But in some circumstances hot water may not be available at the time of the visit (for example where there is an immersion heater). In these cases the assessor should check that the house has the capacity to deliver hot water.
9.13. In practice, this means assessors may have to look for the presence of a water heating appliance. This will normally be a hot water storage cylinder supplied from a boiler, a combination boiler, or a smaller storage or instantaneous water heater located at the bath or wash-hand basin. The device should be capable of delivering a total supply of at least 7 litres of hot water to the sink in one continuous flow, otherwise the house is below tolerable standard.
9.14. If the water heating device is broken or damaged, and an assessor believes it is not fit for purpose and beyond economic repair because of its age and type, the house is below tolerable standard. The presence of a condemned notice on a boiler, or information from the occupier on how long the water heating device has been broken may be helpful to an assessor in making this judgement. However, if an assessor considers that the device can be repaired and thinks that this will be done soon after the visit, the house is not below tolerable standard. In some cases, an assessor may choose to make a follow-up visit to the house at a later date, giving the owner an opportunity to fix the broken device.
9.15. The cold water supply at the sink will in most cases be the source of wholesome water for the occupants of the house. However, there is no requirement for the wholesome supply to be at the sink, and a house may not be below tolerable standard if it is elsewhere. An assessor should refer to the chapter of this guidance on wholesome water for further information on this.
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