Yes, you can fit a water softener in a London flat. Compact cabinet softeners fit in a standard kitchen cupboard, and non-electric models work where there is no socket. With London water at 219 to 327 ppm in every borough, a softener is the only option that stops limescale throughout the home.
1. Check the space you have
The softener goes on the incoming cold mains, so start by finding your stopcock. In most flats it is under the kitchen sink, in an airing cupboard or behind a bath panel.
- Measure the height, width and depth of the cupboard nearest the stopcock
- Allow room above the unit to lift the lid and add salt
- Check there is a drain or waste pipe nearby for the regeneration water
Compare your measurements with the dimensions listed on each domestic water softener. Our team can help you check fit before you order.
2. No socket? Go non-electric
Many flats have no power point near the stopcock. Non-electric Kinetico softeners use the water's own pressure to run, so they need no socket. Their twin-tank design also means you always have soft water, even while one tank regenerates.
3. Pick a size for your household
Most London flats house one to three people, so you rarely need a large unit. Meter-controlled softeners measure the water you use and only regenerate when needed, which keeps salt use down in small households.
4. Keep a drinking water tap
Water suppliers recommend keeping one unsoftened tap for drinking and cooking. Most installers plumb the softener in after the kitchen cold tap. If you want better-tasting drinking water too, add a drinking water system.
5. Check permission first
- Renting: ask your landlord before any plumbing work
- Leasehold: check your lease for rules on alterations
- Moving later: a softener can be removed and the pipework restored
6. Install it yourself or use a plumber
If you are confident with plumbing, our fixing kits include the bypass valve and fittings you need. Read can I install a water softener myself? first. Otherwise, a local plumber can usually fit one in a few hours.
Not ready for a softener?
If you can't install a softener, a scale reducer can help protect a combi boiler. It won't soften the water, but it reduces scale sticking to heating elements.
How hard is the water in your part of London?
See our London hard water guide, borough by borough, or check your postcode.
Need help choosing? With 15 years trading and more than 50,000 customers, we're happy to talk it through. Call us and we'll recommend a model that fits your flat.