Bought new house with water meter installed 9 months ago

jules1213

We have been told by Severn trent Water that we cannot changed back to bill based on rateable value.

I hardly think it is fair that we have taken on the responsiblity of the bill without being given the rights the previous owners were privilaged too. Surely, the right to change the billing should go with the property and not the previous owners.

The website info was not clear on this point - if we had know we would have asked the owners to make the request before we purchased the house.

Now it looks like we are going have water bills of £650 per year, instead of £400. Our last house had water bill of £220 - we have not budgted for this and had streched our budget to pay for the mortgage.

So angry upset and worried.

Canlt belieive I have been so stupid - don't know how we are going to afford this.

bigblackdog

you would have had a meter fitted anyway , the water companies fit meters when the name on the bill changes
wether you want it or not
also perhaps you shouldnt have bought a house with a swimming pool if you are so worried about the cost of water

System

Severn Trents FAQs on water meters say

I have just moved in to a property and it has a meter, can I go back to paying an unmetered bill?

No, only the original occupier who requested the meter to be fitted can go back, and they can only do that if they fit the criteria explained above.

jules1213

Presumably then, if the previous occupiers go back to Severn Trent Water and ask that the bills be reverted to ratebale value, that should be acceptable - as it is within the 12 month limit?

I do not have swimming pool. This is for two adults and one child aged 2 in a 3 bedroom semi detached house.

I do not believe that they would install a meter just because I bought a property. Two of my freinds have just bought a property on the same road and this has not happended.

Oldernotwiser

You must be using a lot of water - most people find that metered water works out cheaper.

System

jules1213 wrote: »

Presumably then, if the previous occupiers go back to Severn Trent Water and ask that the bills be reverted to ratebale value, that should be acceptable - as it is within the 12 month limit?

I would think that they would then argue that as the original occupier has no legal rights within the house or for any of the utilities, he has no authority to request the water meter removal.

Bit of a Catch 22 really.

Swipe

@£650 a year I think you must be very wasteful with water or you have a leak somewhere

LittleMissAspie

We are two adults with no child and we pay about £300 a year. I take long showers and my boyfriend washes up with the tap running (I nag him all the time about this). So how could you possibly use £650??? Really I think you must be vastly overestimating.

DVardysShadow

jules1213 wrote: »

... Now it looks like we are going have water bills of £650 per year ....
So angry upset and worried.

How do you calculate your £650/yr? And is an error in your calculations the cause of your worry?

Cardew

jules1213 wrote: »

Presumably then, if the previous occupiers go back to Severn Trent Water and ask that the bills be reverted to ratebale value, that should be acceptable - as it is within the 12 month limit?

I do not have swimming pool. This is for two adults and one child aged 2 in a 3 bedroom semi detached house.

I do not believe that they would install a meter just because I bought a property. Two of my freinds have just bought a property on the same road and this has not happended.

Firstly all water companies can force new occupants of a property to have a meter fitted.

Some companies enforce this rule 100% others don't bother. Severn trent are a company that don't seem to bother. However if someone has requested a meter and then reverts back to being charged on the RV, the meter stays in place for the next occupants.

I really don't know how you work out that your bill will be £650 for 3 people a semi in ST area(I am in ST as well)

If you have average water consumption for 3(180 cubic metres per year) then your bill should be approx £400. By cutting down on water use you can make it a lot less.