1 house 2 water meters

clairet707

We found out last night from our letting agent that there are actually 2 water meters for our house...

1 for the main house and the other in the outbuilding, we knew where the house meter was but the letting agent didnt know where the other was - somewhere in the outbuilding on a pipe.. was the answer we got

we eventually found it and its a really old style meter..

is it right to assume that the same company provide water for both meters, they didnt say anything about the second when I rang about the first

our inventory didnt even mention the first water meter (though that has now been corrected) and now we only find out about the 2nd almost 3 weeks after moving in - our agents are useless!!:eek:

One_Day_Rodney

The meter for the outbuilding maybe submetering rather than seperate primary metering i.e. the water for the outbuilding comes off the water main after the house water meter.

The way to check is make sure there is no water use in the house and then run the water in the outbuilding. If both meters move by the same quantity, then it is probably submetering and not subject to seperate billing from the supplier.

If just the outbuilding's meter moves, then it must come from the mains (or a seperate source?) before the house water meter and is primary metering and should be marked with a serial number similar to the one for the house.


Most authorities only introduced water metering for domestic properties in the early 90's, so when you describe the meter as "a really old style meter" it doesnt sound right.

HTH

clairet707

One_Day_Rodney wrote: »

The meter for the outbuilding maybe submetering rather than seperate primary metering i.e. the water for the outbuilding comes off the water main after the house water meter.

The way to check is make sure there is no water use in the house and then run the water in the outbuilding. If both meters move by the same quantity, then it is probably submetering and not subject to seperate billing from the supplier.

If just the outbuilding's meter moves, then it must come from the mains (or a seperate source?) before the house water meter and is primary metering and should be marked with a serial number similar to the one for the house.


Most authorities only introduced water metering for domestic properties in the early 90's, so when you describe the meter as "a really old style meter" it doesnt sound right.

HTH

Thanks for that, will check tonight when we get home..

The meter for the house is just outside the back door and is in a small grey box and is a digital meter

the one in the outbuilding is attached to a pipe and is a dial sort (like an old gas meter, cant find a pic but will take one tonight)

why would the outbuilding be on a submeter (if that is the case), whats the point?

deanos

Its very common in council & old terrace type houses to have 2 supplies ( & 2 meters) because when they were built they had 2 supply pipes fitted , just double check that you are paying only 1 standing charge on the bills.

The digital box wont be the meter it will be a "outreader" so the meter reader can read the internal meter from the outside, the meter just by the door will be inside probably under the sink, folow the cable from the outreader inside and it will take you to the meter

kip_cordelia_40

perhaps the outhouse was let separately to the main residence so consumption could be charged to the tenant..I think you need to check are you billed as wholly domestic usuage....presuming there is no commercial element on the premises now??