Funny water payment situation

cautiouscat

Hi, I am just about to purchase an old semi-detached house which is being sold off from an old estate (as in lord-of-the-manor type estate).
For the last 150 years both of the semis have let to farmworkers, and have had a shared water supply which is metered.
Our local water company have told us in the property searches that we have to pay the water bills for both properties and reclaim the money from our neighbours.

I appreciate that once a house is metered the water supplier will not un-meter it, but it doesn't seem right that we should be effectively acting as an agent for our neighbours. Plus, the neighbours have moved in but we won't be moving in for several months (no heating system at present).

This isn't a very fair way of billing the house but is it legal and can it be changed?

The sellers have contracted to split the water supply and change the meters within 12 months of purchase but I don't trust them to do it tbh

Thanks for reading
Cautious Cat

DVardysShadow

The only thing I can suggest is that your solicitor holds a retention [say £2500] until the job is done - this should make it more likely that the supplies are separated.

Psykicpup

indeed this is an agrement the water co cant get involved in, but they do have the right to claim the cost of the supply of water from someone. As you will have been made aware of the situation when you purchased or leased, other than that outlined above I cant see anyway round this

deanos

The other way round it is to fit a sub/network meter