Is my landlord ripping my friend off

samuela66

:mad: Hi
My friend moved into a first floor flat 6 months ago, her landlord told her the property is on a water meter on business rates, so she is charging her £40 per month, we have just called the Unitited utilities to be told it is not a business meter it is private and both flats just have the one meter, what can we do next please,

thanks

Sam

Cardew

It depends on the rental agreement.

If it states he will make a charge of £40 a month(or £300!!) then she has a problem.

The water company are only interested in getting paid for the water consumed.

She should demand to see the bills from the landlord to see if she is being overcharged.

Normally United Utilities will give an occupant of a flat an assessed bill if there is no meter; but this doesn't apply in this case.

Really it is just an issue between the landlord and your friend.

samuela66

Well theres nothing in the rental agreement they just told my friend that her flat was business water rates and they couldn't afford the 1000 charge that utilities want to change it, it appears to me they are ripping off both her and the lady below.....

whatatwit

The house we live in was previously used as a commercial property.
I advised United Utilities that it was now a private house and sent them a copy of my council tax bill as proof.
No charge for me to billed as domestic rather than commercial.

I have this week received my water bill for home and for work (premises elsewhere) both with United Utilities.

Home...water in

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Work.....water in
Standing charge £29 (per year)

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£88 (per year)
Volume in per cubic metre £1.294

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£1.294

Home water out

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Work, not got a bill handy
Standing charge £15 (per year)

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but it is roughly the same amount
Volume out per cubic metre £1.064

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as at home.
I am also charged for surface.highway drainage at both properties

So, what I am trying to convey is that business water charges are the same per cubic metre as domestic charges..

I think your friend should speak to the lady below and find out how much she is being charged and they should both ask to see the bills and agree to split them.

spiro

For gas and electricity the law covers what landlords are allowed to do (make no profit from it), therefore I would contact the CAB and ask them if the same applies to water.

Seivad_2

http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/aptrix/ofwat/publish.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/water_resale160306.pdf/$FILE/water_resale160306.pdf

Follow above link issued 2006

outlines how the landlady (re-seller in this case) can and can's charge.