why the big difference?

goodquestion

I have just moved from a 2 bed split level flat in a converted house and downsized to a two bed purpose built block - only 15 mins apart from each other.

The flat is much smaller however the water bill is a staggering £140 more a year than my last place! From £240 to almost £380. Any ideas why this might be? My last place was a combi boiler whereas this place is quite old and still has a water tank - could that be it?

My landlord pays the bill as part of the rent (I've seen the Thames Water bill so I know Im not being ripped off) but that does mean I cant speak direct to Thames Water as my name isnt on the bill and naturally my landlord is non plussed as long as it gets paid. I've asked them to see about fitting a water meter to help me out.

Cardew

As you have no meter in the new place your bills are based on the Rateable Value(RV) and that is fixed.

If your old place had a meter, that would account for the lower bills. If no meter it would have had a lower RV.

tori.k

I had this with SWW years ago. i lived in a 2 bed flat and my mum lived at the end of the road in a four bed house both RV but my water was £250 PA higher then hers...found our that the RV on my flat was based on the price of whole block of 6 flats and not just on my one flat, and we found out it was legal for them to do this.
If you find you cant have a meter fitted, ask about an assesed charge if there is 2 or less people in the household

goodquestion

thanks for the advice. There's only 2 of us and neither property had a meter - in fact the last place had 4 of us!

The water company wont speak to me as its all in the landlord's name so I will have to transfer it over before I do.