Water meter leak - who pays?

Hi,

I believe that if the water is leaking from your side of the meter, then it is your responsibility. If the leak is from the other side of the meter (ie, where the water goes into the meter) then it should be the water board. Be careful though - I had a leak and it cost me over £1K to fix (had to have new pipe from meter to internal stop c**k - under front garden, living room into kitchen!!!) Thames water did refund what they had charged me for the metered water, but I had to pay for the repairs.

Have the water board recently sent you a 'free three month insurance trial'? If so, you could probably be cheeky and claim on that - if not, check your house insurance - mine wouldn't pay out though.

Also, they may want you to start using the meter if its there - I was under the impression that if you moved into a house which had a meter, you had to use it - even if you or the previous owners didn't - this could just be thames water though?

If it is the meter itself leaking, or the connections on the meter, regardless of which side, it is the water company's problem. It is their meter and they installed it !
If it is the pipe on the house side of the meter that is leaking, it is your problem.

I am going through a similar thing at the moment (although mine is more complex as I live in a flat - the pipe crosses common land and nobody knows where exactly the pipe route is from outside meter to internal stop tap!!)

I'd say rest easy - as long as the water co can identify the leak (you say that someone has agreed the leak is on the meter itself) - then I would be very confident of them repairing it under their 'free repair scheme' - most water companies do this for domestic customers.

Certainly is one of the most unfortunate things that can happen to a homeowner as the pipe lays underground, you can't see it, maintain it, access it etc. Godo luck to you - I hope you have it resolved soon!!