Yorkshire Water refuses to replace burst mains despite £100,000 damage to couple’s home

Martin and Kim Butterworth, residents of Holmbridge near Holmfirth, suffered two severe floods—first in May 2019 and again in August 2025—when a Yorkshire Water main ruptured, destroying floors, partition walls, built-in furniture and a plug-in hybrid car, with total damage reported at more than £100,000. Records show nine burst incidents on two local pipes over six years, yet Yorkshire Water stated the section outside their home did not qualify for replacement under its £400 million, five-year mains-replacement programme that began in 2025.

After pressure from one outlet, the company agreed to pay £8,100 for an interceptor drain but maintained it would not replace the aging main. The property has been entered into the Flood Re scheme, causing the Butterworths’ annual insurance premium to jump from £438 to £2,500, a rise the utility has reimbursed so far. Retired chartered surveyor Martin Butterworth argues the replacement criteria ignore the substantial property damage and could affect many other homeowners. Yorkshire Water says it will replace 1,000 km of mains by 2030 and will continue to support customers through insurance and flood-mitigation measures.