excessive water rates

dave_b_6

Hi,

i've just recieved my water rates from yorkshire water ,my bill is £571 for the year,it has been £500 + for as long as i can remember.The average water bill according to yorks. water website is 340 - 361. I only live in a 3 bedroom semi not a mansion and all of my neighbours pay much less.
When we have tried to query this we just get told that the rates were worked out in 1990 at rateable value and cannot be changed,how archaic is this?
i have been thinking of contacting citizens advice about this as i feel we have been paying way too much over a long period.
Any advice ?

Cardew

Why don't you get a meter?

Your house is charged according to its Rateable Value(RV) that was in force in April 1990, although that RV could have been assessed as long ago as 1973.

Yorkshire water are quite correct, there is no mechanism to change your RV. It is also not the fault of the water companies, that is what they must use as laid down in the Water Privatisation Act - so blame the lady Meryl Streep won an Oscar for portraying!

nearlyrich

Ours has gone over £700 this year we are looking at installing a water meter ...

macman

What your neighbours pay is completely irrelevant under RV billing. Larger properties frequently have lower RV's.
Yes, it is archaic, but no government is going to commit to funding a national reval anytime soon, so we are stuck with it.
As Cardew advises, get a meter. If you don't save, revert to RV billing within the first 12m. You cannot lose.

dave_b_6

Thanks for the replies and comments ,looks like a water meter it is.

meer53

I'm with Yorkshire Water, i had a meter installed 2 years ago. 3 bed semi, me and daughter at home, we don't scrimp on water, i pay £17 per month. Obviously depends on how many of you there are but i'd look into a meter if i were you.