unoccupied house= £500 WATER BILL

JPanter

I bought a house that needed total renovation a year ago. For at least 10 months the water supply was turned off at the main as all the pipe work had had to be ripped out and replaced. Although now the work has been done and water supply turned back on the house is still unoccupied.
I have informed the water company of this on several occasions but they never respond only to send me the same letter demanding £500 odd for a years usage.
Can they still charge me even when there is no water supply? Help

Ken68

You would probably need to prove no water was used. How you gonna do that with no meter.
Even so the water board would reply that the water was available, up to you whether you used it or not.

chilli_dog

I think they can bill you for the useage of the sewers.

ie, the rain water that runs of your roof runs into there sewers, im reasonably sure about this as i know someone it happened to a few years ago.

Can anyone confirm this?

Martin

deanos

When you have a property that is unocupied you can go on a "Surface Water Tarrif" you only pay a small amount about £30 a year , you must tell them the house is unoccupied tho other wise you will have to pay the normal water rates , this is i susspect what you have been billed for and they do check from time to time that the property is unoccupied when you are on this tarrif.

I would ring and explain that the house is under renovation and tell them they are welcome to come around and look and you want to be put on the surface watter tarrif,i would also put this is writing and send recorded delivery as they have to respond to your letter and you will have the reply in writing , other companys may have these schemes under different names but im sure they all must have them , do you know who supplies your water ?