Welsh Water enquiry

WNBRich

I hope someone with some knowledge of the intricacies of water bills can help. My son has taken a student flat at uni for the coming academic year.The lease is dated from the 1st July this year, and he's just received the bill. I was shocked to see that the bill was for the same amount that we pay for our much larger, modern home. The bill is based on a Uniform Service Charge. I have checked Welsh Water's explanations of its charges - it states that, "Uniform Service Charge (for properties built between 1st April 1990 and 31st March 2000) –charges are based on the average rateable value of properties in Wales."
My query is that the flat is one of 2 in the building which is approx. 100 years old. I believe that the building was previously a warehouse, and was converted into flats sometime in the past.I do not think that the USC should apply to such an old building, and that the alternative method of charging based on the RV would be fairer. Can anyone please help or point me in the right direction for further enquiries?

Cardew

Hi,

The website is quite clear on the Uniform Service Charge

Redevelopment of premises
Any alterations to existing premises that result in the creation of additional premises or merging of existing premises must be constructed so that each of the premises is separately connected to the Company’s water main and can be separately metered. Each customer must meet the costs of appropriate alterations to the pipework. In default, the Company may carry out the necessary work and recover the costs. If metering is not practicable, or until a meter
is fitted a charging value or charge may be assessed, based on either a notional rateable value (Uniform Service Charge) or an Assessed Metered Charge
subject to the necessary information being available

from the customer.

Since 1990 no mechanism has existed to assess and award a Rateable Value.(RV) - The RV being based on the notional rent a property could command.

I am not sure why you think it even possible to use an RV for your son's flat when an RV has never existed.

Surely all you need to do is get him to apply for a meter. If a meter cannot be fitted he must be offered an assessed rate which presumably will be cheaper.

WNBRich

Thank you Cardew for your helpful comments. I am aware of the fact that the RV cannot be used in post 1990 assessments. Perhaps I did not make myself sufficiently clear - I am sceptical that the premises were modified or altered after 1990, I think it was done pre-1990 and that there would have been a RV for the flats. Welsh Water were unhelpful when I spoke to them and gave me no info, claiming that the Data Protecton Act prevented it. That is why I mentioned the RV. My enquiries will now be directed to the LA to see if they can tell me when the development occurred.

Cardew

It is pertinent to point out that many developers, even if they had full planning permission, simply did not inform the water company that there were now dwellings at that address.

There are many cases reported on MSE of large houses converted into flats, where only one flat pays for water based on the original RV of the property and the other flats pay nothing. In other cases where the water company is aware of the conversion, all of the flats pay the same charges using the original RV of the property.

Even if you are correct in your assumption that the building was converted before 1990 and had an RV, I am afraid you are highly unlikely to find out the RV.(many people have tried). Obviously the water company don't have any record or they would use it now.

Some people have tried the local council(they are convinced their RV is incorrect!) and everyone has reported the council has not kept records - Given that the last RV assessment occurred in 1973 before computerised records it is unlikely that redundant information would be transferred to computer records.

There is a possibility that the RV might be recorded on the deeds of the property.

In all probability I suspect that the property was never allocated a RV; and if it was, you will never find out !