New build - water meter + new house haggling

3KIDSNOMONEY

i am seriously looking at buying a new build. currently live in a 3 bed semi with 2 adults and 4 kids in the house. The new build has a water meter and as other bills like council tax, etc are going to rise i am getting a bit worried that our water bills would be huge. Any advice.

Also, anyone had any experience of buying a new home and got any advice about the haggling process when purchasing

*judge*judy*

Hi,
Check out the watersure scheme.If you have 3 children under the age of 19 and are in receipt of any of the following benefits you can have your bills capped so they don't go over a certain amount.This also applies for certain medical conditions.

1. Council tax benefit
2. Housing benefit
3. Income support
4. Working tax credit
5. Income-based job-seeker’s allowance
6. Child tax credit (Except families in receipt of the family element only)
7. Pension credit
8. Income Related Employment and Support Allowance

Hope this helps!

cattie

Eventually everybody will have to have a water meter, so really it's something you're going to have to get used to.

For me having a water meter has saved me at least £200 per year. There are no children in my house & only showers taken; never baths, washing machine on average of twice each week, no dishwasher.

If you contact your local water authority, they can give you a rough estimate of how much you'd pay on a water meter based on the size of your family, water using appliances & the way in which you use water in your household.

PasturesNew

I've saved a fortune from having a water meter installed in my studio. Water rates were £480/year and I only use about £50 a year. There's a standing charge on top of that which doubles it though.

zcacmxi

I can understand that singles and couples living in Apartments would save with a water meter.

Now, how about a family with a 2 or 3 children living in an average house with a garden?

I doubt the water companies would be so keen to fit everybody a meter at huge costs to them, if in the long run it did not make them more money.

PasturesNew

zcacmxi wrote: »

I can understand that singles and couples living in Apartments would save with a water meter.

Now, how about a family with a 2 or 3 children living in an average house with a garden?

I doubt the water companies would be so keen to fit everybody a meter at huge costs to them, if in the long run it did not make them more money.

Even families can win on a meter.

People on a water meter think about how much they're using (not wasting), those not on a meter don't, they just use it willy nilly.

They use it because it's there, not because they "need" it all.

silvercar

General ready-reckoner advice is to compare the number of people in the home with the number of bedrooms. If the number of people is less than the number of bedrooms then, generally, a water meter would be cheaper.

For a 3 bed house with 6 people, you would probably be better off with water rates.

All new builds have water meters, so you have no option if you want a new build. You should save in other ways as new homes are generally better insulated and have more efficient heating systems.

Fire_Fox

zcacmxi wrote: »

I can understand that singles and couples living in Apartments would save with a water meter.

Now, how about a family with a 2 or 3 children living in an average house with a garden?

I doubt the water companies would be so keen to fit everybody a meter at huge costs to them, if in the long run it did not make them more money.

We use £80 a year water between two in a flat, including standing charge. Double up for an 'average' family and you get £160 a year - still very reasonable. Gardens do not need to be watered if they are prepared and looked after properly - I have previously managed to develop a beautiful garden in very dry soil (mature tree and hedges on three sides) after all my neighbours telling me it wasn't possible. Beef up the soil using your homemade compost, select and plant carefully, and mulch the surface annually. If you must water the garden buy a water butt and recycle rain and bath water on the garden.

*judge*judy*

*judge*judy* wrote: »

Hi,
Check out the watersure scheme.If you have 3 children under the age of 19 and are in receipt of any of the following benefits you can have your bills capped so they don't go over a certain amount.This also applies for certain medical conditions.

1. Council tax benefit
2. Housing benefit
3. Income support
4. Working tax credit
5. Income-based job-seeker’s allowance
6. Child tax credit (Except families in receipt of the family element only)
7. Pension credit
8. Income Related Employment and Support Allowance

Hope this helps!

Sorry I thought I'd better clarify this,
Your capped rate is set at a comparable level to local un-metered water rates,If you use less than this amount then you only get charged for what you use.If you use more you only pay the "capped" figure.

3KIDSNOMONEY

hi, thanks for the replies. After looking i think that our bill would double. Get WFTC so going to look into that. We try not to waste water but it is hard to 'train' the children!

bristol_pilot

Rollerball wrote: »

If you live in a flat can you ask the local water company (mine is Thames Water) to fit a water meter? If so, how much will they charge for installing it? You can get a water meter in a flat and not just a house, can't you? Thanks.

Yes you can, it will be free to fit and they will take it away free if you don't like it (within 1 year). BUT - you may be devaluing the flat by having a water meter fitted (assuming you own it). If the flat is rented, you must ask the landlord's permission. If you ask for a water meter to be fitted and it turns out not to be physically possible, they will cut your water rates.