diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/auth/schema.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/auth/schema.py
index 95a17f49c..6ea0d7d3c 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/auth/schema.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/auth/schema.py
@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@
     String,
     Uuid,
 )
-from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_base
+from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase
 
 from diracx.db.sql.utils import Column, DateNowColumn, EnumColumn, NullColumn
 
 USER_CODE_LENGTH = 8
 
-Base = declarative_base()
+
+class Base(DeclarativeBase):
+    pass
 
 
 class FlowStatus(Enum):
diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/dummy/schema.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/dummy/schema.py
index 5379de94d..33debcb89 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/dummy/schema.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/dummy/schema.py
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from sqlalchemy import ForeignKey, Integer, String, Uuid
-from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_base
+from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase
 
 from diracx.db.sql.utils import Column, DateNowColumn
 
-Base = declarative_base()
+
+class Base(DeclarativeBase):
+    pass
 
 
 class Owners(Base):
diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job/db.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job/db.py
index 01cdb83a1..d260f5a40 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job/db.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job/db.py
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@
 __all__ = ["JobDB"]
 
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Iterable
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Iterable, cast
 
 from sqlalchemy import bindparam, case, delete, insert, select, update
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from sqlalchemy.sql.elements import BindParameter
+    from sqlalchemy import Table
 
 from diracx.core.exceptions import InvalidQueryError
 from diracx.core.models import JobCommand, SearchSpec, SortSpec
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ async def search(
     async def create_job(self, compressed_original_jdl: str):
         """Used to insert a new job with original JDL. Returns inserted job id."""
         result = await self.conn.execute(
-            JobJDLs.__table__.insert().values(
+            cast("Table", JobJDLs.__table__).insert().values(
                 JDL="",
                 JobRequirements="",
                 OriginalJDL=compressed_original_jdl,
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ async def delete_jobs(self, job_ids: list[int]):
     async def insert_input_data(self, lfns: dict[int, list[str]]):
         """Insert input data for jobs."""
         await self.conn.execute(
-            InputData.__table__.insert(),
+            cast("Table", InputData.__table__).insert(),
             [
                 {
                     "JobID": job_id,
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ async def insert_input_data(self, lfns: dict[int, list[str]]):
     async def insert_job_attributes(self, jobs_to_update: dict[int, dict]):
         """Insert the job attributes."""
         await self.conn.execute(
-            Jobs.__table__.insert(),
+            cast("Table", Jobs.__table__).insert(),
             [
                 {
                     "JobID": job_id,
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ async def insert_job_attributes(self, jobs_to_update: dict[int, dict]):
     async def update_job_jdls(self, jdls_to_update: dict[int, str]):
         """Used to update the JDL, typically just after inserting the original JDL, or rescheduling, for example."""
         await self.conn.execute(
-            JobJDLs.__table__.update().where(
+            cast("Table", JobJDLs.__table__).update().where(
                 JobJDLs.__table__.c.JobID == bindparam("b_JobID")
             ),
             [
@@ -171,7 +172,7 @@ async def set_job_attributes(self, job_data):
         }
 
         stmt = (
-            Jobs.__table__.update()
+            cast("Table", Jobs.__table__).update()
             .values(**case_expressions)
             .where(Jobs.__table__.c.JobID.in_(job_data.keys()))
         )
@@ -228,7 +229,7 @@ async def set_properties(
         required_parameters = list(required_parameters_set)[0]
         update_parameters = [{"job_id": k, **v} for k, v in properties.items()]
 
-        columns = _get_columns(Jobs.__table__, required_parameters)
+        columns = _get_columns(cast("Table", Jobs.__table__), list(required_parameters))
         values: dict[str, BindParameter[Any] | datetime] = {
             c.name: bindparam(c.name) for c in columns
         }
@@ -267,7 +268,7 @@ async def add_heartbeat_data(
             }
             for key, value in dynamic_data.items()
         ]
-        await self.conn.execute(HeartBeatLoggingInfo.__table__.insert().values(values))
+        await self.conn.execute(cast("Table", HeartBeatLoggingInfo.__table__).insert().values(values))
 
     async def get_job_commands(self, job_ids: Iterable[int]) -> list[JobCommand]:
         """Get a command to be passed to the job together with the next heartbeat.
diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job/schema.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job/schema.py
index bb9f60bf1..9d6e1003b 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job/schema.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job/schema.py
@@ -9,11 +9,13 @@
     String,
     Text,
 )
-from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_base
+from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase
 
 from ..utils import Column, EnumBackedBool, NullColumn
 
-JobDBBase = declarative_base()
+
+class JobDBBase(DeclarativeBase):
+    pass
 
 
 class AccountedFlagEnum(types.TypeDecorator):
diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job_logging/db.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job_logging/db.py
index f225ed95c..fd158af27 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job_logging/db.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job_logging/db.py
@@ -2,10 +2,13 @@
 
 from collections import defaultdict
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
-from typing import Iterable
+from typing import Iterable, cast, TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from sqlalchemy import delete, func, select
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from sqlalchemy import Table
+
 from diracx.core.models import JobLoggingRecord, JobStatusReturn
 
 from ..utils import BaseSQLDB
@@ -56,7 +59,7 @@ async def insert_records(
             seqnums[record.job_id] = seqnums[record.job_id] + 1
 
         await self.conn.execute(
-            LoggingInfo.__table__.insert(),
+            cast("Table", LoggingInfo.__table__).insert(),
             values,
         )
 
diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job_logging/schema.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job_logging/schema.py
index 2366448f2..e438b162b 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job_logging/schema.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/job_logging/schema.py
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@
 from datetime import UTC, datetime
 
 from sqlalchemy import Integer, Numeric, PrimaryKeyConstraint, String, TypeDecorator
-from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_base
+from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase
 
 from ..utils import Column, DateNowColumn
 
-JobLoggingDBBase = declarative_base()
+
+class JobLoggingDBBase(DeclarativeBase):
+    pass
 
 
 class MagicEpochDateTime(TypeDecorator):
diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/pilot_agents/schema.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/pilot_agents/schema.py
index bff7c460c..42a6dbf8b 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/pilot_agents/schema.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/pilot_agents/schema.py
@@ -8,11 +8,13 @@
     String,
     Text,
 )
-from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_base
+from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase
 
 from ..utils import Column, EnumBackedBool, NullColumn
 
-PilotAgentsDBBase = declarative_base()
+
+class PilotAgentsDBBase(DeclarativeBase):
+    pass
 
 
 class PilotAgents(PilotAgentsDBBase):
diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/sandbox_metadata/schema.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/sandbox_metadata/schema.py
index 4cf9a2a7d..049dd7f7c 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/sandbox_metadata/schema.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/sandbox_metadata/schema.py
@@ -9,11 +9,13 @@
     String,
     UniqueConstraint,
 )
-from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_base
+from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase
 
 from diracx.db.sql.utils import Column, DateNowColumn
 
-Base = declarative_base()
+
+class Base(DeclarativeBase):
+    pass
 
 
 class SBOwners(Base):
diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/task_queue/schema.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/task_queue/schema.py
index 0a3c0f033..88ffdfdc9 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/task_queue/schema.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/task_queue/schema.py
@@ -9,11 +9,13 @@
     Integer,
     String,
 )
-from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_base
+from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase
 
 from ..utils import Column
 
-TaskQueueDBBase = declarative_base()
+
+class TaskQueueDBBase(DeclarativeBase):
+    pass
 
 
 class TaskQueues(TaskQueueDBBase):
diff --git a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/utils/base.py b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/utils/base.py
index 9b349e14e..52107e85a 100644
--- a/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/utils/base.py
+++ b/diracx-db/src/diracx/db/sql/utils/base.py
@@ -8,13 +8,16 @@
 from collections.abc import AsyncIterator
 from contextvars import ContextVar
 from datetime import datetime
-from typing import Any, Self, cast
+from typing import Any, Self, cast, TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from pydantic import TypeAdapter
-from sqlalchemy import DateTime, MetaData, func, select
+from sqlalchemy import DateTime, MetaData, Table, func, select
 from sqlalchemy.exc import OperationalError
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncConnection, AsyncEngine, create_async_engine
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase
+
 from diracx.core.exceptions import InvalidQueryError
 from diracx.core.extensions import select_from_extension
 from diracx.core.models import (
@@ -233,7 +236,7 @@ async def ping(self):
 
     async def _search(
         self,
-        table: Any,
+        table: type[DeclarativeBase],
         parameters: list[str] | None,
         search: list[SearchSpec],
         sorts: list[SortSpec],
@@ -244,12 +247,13 @@ async def _search(
     ) -> tuple[int, list[dict[str, Any]]]:
         """Search for elements in a table."""
         # Find which columns to select
-        columns = _get_columns(table.__table__, parameters)
+        table_obj = cast(Table, table.__table__)
+        columns = _get_columns(table_obj, parameters)
 
         stmt = select(*columns)
 
-        stmt = apply_search_filters(table.__table__.columns.__getitem__, stmt, search)
-        stmt = apply_sort_constraints(table.__table__.columns.__getitem__, stmt, sorts)
+        stmt = apply_search_filters(table_obj.columns.__getitem__, stmt, search)
+        stmt = apply_sort_constraints(table_obj.columns.__getitem__, stmt, sorts)
 
         if distinct:
             stmt = stmt.distinct()
@@ -273,12 +277,13 @@ async def _search(
         ]
 
     async def _summary(
-        self, table: Any, group_by: list[str], search: list[SearchSpec]
+        self, table: type[DeclarativeBase], group_by: list[str], search: list[SearchSpec]
     ) -> list[dict[str, str | int]]:
         """Get a summary of the elements of a table."""
-        columns = _get_columns(table.__table__, group_by)
+        table_obj = cast(Table, table.__table__)
+        columns = _get_columns(table_obj, group_by)
 
-        pk_columns = list(table.__table__.primary_key.columns)
+        pk_columns = list(table_obj.primary_key.columns)
         if not pk_columns:
             raise ValueError(
                 "Model has no primary key and no count_column was provided."
@@ -286,7 +291,7 @@ async def _summary(
         count_col = pk_columns[0]
 
         stmt = select(*columns, func.count(count_col).label("count"))
-        stmt = apply_search_filters(table.__table__.columns.__getitem__, stmt, search)
+        stmt = apply_search_filters(table_obj.columns.__getitem__, stmt, search)
         stmt = stmt.group_by(*columns)
 
         # Execute the query
@@ -327,7 +332,7 @@ def find_time_resolution(value):
     raise InvalidQueryError(f"Cannot parse {value=}")
 
 
-def _get_columns(table, parameters):
+def _get_columns(table: Table, parameters: list[str] | None):
     columns = [x for x in table.columns]
     if parameters:
         if unrecognised_parameters := set(parameters) - set(table.columns.keys()):
diff --git a/extensions/gubbins/gubbins-db/src/gubbins/db/sql/jobs/schema.py b/extensions/gubbins/gubbins-db/src/gubbins/db/sql/jobs/schema.py
index eee922d4e..10869665e 100644
--- a/extensions/gubbins/gubbins-db/src/gubbins/db/sql/jobs/schema.py
+++ b/extensions/gubbins/gubbins-db/src/gubbins/db/sql/jobs/schema.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from diracx.db.sql.job.db import JobDBBase
+from diracx.db.sql.job.schema import JobDBBase
 from diracx.db.sql.utils import Column
 from sqlalchemy import (
     ForeignKey,
diff --git a/extensions/gubbins/gubbins-db/src/gubbins/db/sql/lollygag/schema.py b/extensions/gubbins/gubbins-db/src/gubbins/db/sql/lollygag/schema.py
index 9b80e5133..5e104956e 100644
--- a/extensions/gubbins/gubbins-db/src/gubbins/db/sql/lollygag/schema.py
+++ b/extensions/gubbins/gubbins-db/src/gubbins/db/sql/lollygag/schema.py
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 # in place of the SQLAlchemy one. Have a look at them
 from diracx.db.sql.utils import Column, DateNowColumn
 from sqlalchemy import ForeignKey, Integer, String, Uuid
-from sqlalchemy.orm import declarative_base
+from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase
 
-Base = declarative_base()
+
+class Base(DeclarativeBase):
+    pass
 
 
 class Owners(Base):