Water Meter - What if renting?

giruzz

Hello,

I recently received a huge bill from Thames Water. While on the phone, they advised to install a meter as it would have been much cheaper (1/2 current cost).

However...I am renting at the moment....my question is....

given that my landlord doesn't say YES or NO (I have asked several times and never received a reply)....can I request Thames Water to install a meter?

TW already completed a survey and they say there is no need to enter the property and minor work needs to be carried out

I have been renting for over two years and currently on monthly contract

The landlord doesn't respond to emails...or phone calls...so dunno if yes or no...

any advice?

Thanks,

giruzz

uncovered

Legally you can get a meter installed without his permission as you have been there longer than 6 months.

The fact that the meter will be installed outside also makes this possible without the landlord getting involved.

jd87

Maybe withhold the rent for a month and see if your landlord gets in touch then?

kerri_gt

Just out of interest, do you rent directly from your landlord or via a Lettings Agency? If its via a LA, have you contacted them? Does your LL respond to any of your other messages if something needs to be done in the property? I am not sure where you legally stand about installing a water meter but I'm surprised your LL doesn't give you a response on this.

giruzz

Hello,

Thanks everyone for the replies.

The LA says that they only there to facilitate the 'contract' they don't get involved at all in anything.

We had a bit of trouble at first with the LL:

1) It took about 6 months to put our deposit in a protection scheme and this was only after countless emails/phone calls

2) It took about 4 weeks to fix a leak in the toilet..again...he scheduled a couple appointments to have it fixed but never showed up (only at the third attempt....)

3) We called/emailed him about the meter about 3 or 4 times never replyed. Then he said 'I'll come around next week and will let you know when' but again..no answers to emails/calls and didn't show up. Emailed again a week after but no replies....

Btw...the meter should be installed outside the 'house' (it is a victorian conversion) but technically it will be still his property.
Also..I want to know if he could help as we have 6 light bulbs going up the stairs and 4 are burned...and you can't really see much with a 2x20watt bulbs. I would like him to replace the bulbs...but again no reply :-((((

Regards,

giruzz

kerri_gt

Tbh, I would be somewhat irritated at the very least by a LL that seems happy enough to take your money each month but somewhat disinterested in the general maintenance of his property - I would find 4 weeks to fix a toilet unacceptable, in my previous flat, the LA (who were paid by LL to manage the property) would always have someone round within a day or so to deal with anything (not that we needed them to come round for much, a bathroom leak, broken fridge/freezer and a window catch in 8 yrs wasn't bad going)

With regard to the lightbulbs, I would have thought that these fall under your responsibilty as a tenant - or are they in a communal area? If they are reachable (thinking Victorian properties and high celings) I would be tempted just to replace them given the cost of light bulbs - much cheaper than a tumble down the stairs in the dark.

giruzz

kerri_gt wrote: »

With regard to the lightbulbs, I would have thought that these fall under your responsibilty as a tenant - or are they in a communal area? If they are reachable (thinking Victorian properties and high celings) I would be tempted just to replace them given the cost of light bulbs - much cheaper than a tumble down the stairs in the dark.

Apologies for being unclear. The light bulbs are in the communal areas. I have tried to replace the ones that are burned but even if I stand on top of a chair there are at least 40cm between me and the bulbs.

Anyway, today I've emailed him again..if he doesn't reply I'll send another email saying that I will have WT to come and install the meter....

giruzz

macman

Neither the meter nor the pipe to it are the LL's property. They are the property of the water co. The LL's responsibility starts only after the meter or stopcock in the street.
Given his apparent total lack of interest in running a proper rental operation, I would simply inform him by registered post that you are going ahead with this procedure and give him 7 days notice. Then the ball is squarely in his court.

deanos

Has the prop been split into flats ?

If so its more than likely to have just one supply pipe so an internal meter will be required, unless they put new service pipes for each flat so there will be separate stoptaps for each flat outside, have you looked ?

giruzz

deanos wrote: »

Has the prop been split into flats ?

If so its more than likely to have just one supply pipe so an internal meter will be required, unless they put new service pipes for each flat so there will be separate stoptaps for each flat outside, have you looked ?

The property is split in 5 flats. Already done WT survey and the surveyor says that he can do the installation with minimal intervention (outside the building next to the place where we have the GAS meters).

The surveyor says that to install the meter he needs to remove some 'bricks' (not sure how those things are called and English is not my first language) and then put them back without breaking anything. This will be done just outside the main entrance on the LL's property (not on the street) as we have two parking spaces within the premises in front of the house. The meter will not have any impact on the available parking space.

Emailed the LL last night but no reply. Will email again mid-week and tell him that will have the meter installed.

thanks for all the assistance.

giruzz

deanos

LOL remove some bricks, they will dig it up find the service and insert a meter box the reinstate it not as simple as he is making out ,

You must have single supply's into the flat then