Yes. You can.
The hosepipe ban stops you doing it yourself. It doesn’t stop us doing it for you.
We’re a registered business, and businesses are exempt. Your booking is safe and the work is legal.
Here’s the full story in plain English.
Worried you’ll get fined? You won’t. Call us on 07751 890709 and we’ll confirm it in writing before we turn up. Get a free quote
You vs us: who can do what
| Job | You, with a hosepipe | Us |
|---|---|---|
| Clean a patio or driveway | Banned | Allowed |
| Clean a path or decking | Banned | Allowed |
| Clean walls or render | Banned | Allowed |
| Clean windows | Banned | Allowed |
| Clean the roof | Banned | Allowed |
| Clear the gutters | Banned | Allowed |
| Wash the car | Banned | Allowed |
| Water the garden | Banned | Banned |
| Use a bucket or watering can | Allowed | Allowed |
Doing it yourself with a hosepipe or pressure washer risks a fine of up to £1,000. Hiring us doesn’t.
What you can’t do right now
There’s a hosepipe ban across our whole area.
Affinity Water brought theirs in on 17 July. It covers every Harrow postcode, plus Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey and parts of London.
Thames Water started theirs on 23 July, across London, the Thames Valley and the home counties.
Between them, they cover Harrow, Watford, Pinner, Stanmore, Northwood, Ruislip and Bushey.
You can’t use a hosepipe or a pressure washer to:
- Water the garden or lawn
- Clean your patio, path or driveway
- Clean your walls, fence or windows
- Wash the car
- Fill a paddling pool, hot tub or pond
The fine is up to £1,000. It’s set out in Affinity Water’s legal notice.
What you can still do
- Use a watering can or a bucket. Always allowed.
- Use water from a water butt.
- Hire a professional cleaning company. Also allowed.
That last one surprises people. So let’s explain it.
Why we’re allowed and you’re not
The rules have always had an exemption for businesses.
Thames Water spell it out in their hosepipe ban FAQs. A business can still use a hose or a jet wash when it’s a service for a customer. That covers windows, walls, paths, patios and outdoor surfaces.
Affinity Water apply the same rule. So does every water company with a ban this summer.
The ban is aimed at people watering their garden. It was never aimed at tradespeople doing their job.
So:
- You can’t jet wash your own patio.
- We can, because we’re doing it as a service.
Same goes for window cleaning. Our van mounted pure water systems are exempt too.
Nothing about your booking is at risk.
Still not sure? We’ll email you the exemption in writing before your booking, so you’ve got it in hand if a neighbour asks. Book a free quote or call 07751 890709
Why hiring us is the smart move
- No £1,000 fine. You can’t be fined for work we do. We’re covered by the exemption.
- We do it once, properly. Most people go over the same patch three or four times with a domestic washer. That’s water wasted for a worse result.
- Waiting makes it worse. Hot dry weather bakes dirt and algae into the surface. Moss holds damp against your roof tiles. Dry leaves in the gutter turn into a blockage the second the rain comes back.
- No awkward looks from the neighbours. Nobody wants to be the house with the hose running. When we do it, it’s clearly allowed.
How we’re saving water while we work
Being exempt doesn’t mean wasting it. On every job we:
- Run our machines on the lowest pressure that does the job
- Soft wash roofs and render, which uses treatment instead of loads of water
- Use pure water systems on windows
- Pre treat dirty surfaces so we’re not blasting the same spot over and over
Fully insured | Trading since 2023
Covering Harrow, Watford, Pinner, Stanmore, Northwood, Ruislip and Bushey
Your questions, answered
Can I still book a patio or driveway clean?
Yes. We’re exempt under the business exemption in the Temporary Use Ban rules. We can use a pressure washer at your home legally.
Is window cleaning affected?
No. Professional window cleaning is exempt, pure water systems included.
Can I clean my own patio with a bucket?
Yes. Buckets and watering cans are fine. It just won’t shift proper algae or lichen.
What if I use my own pressure washer anyway?
You risk a fine of up to £1,000 under Section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991. Pressure washers count as hosepipes under the ban.
Does the ban stop roof or gutter cleaning?
No. Both are exempt. Gutter clearing is mostly a vacuum job anyway.
Will my neighbours report me?
They can, but there’s nothing to report. The work is legal. We’ll give you the exemption in writing if you want it to hand.
How long will the ban last?
There’s no end date. It stays until water levels recover. It makes no difference to your booking either way.
