Excessive Water Bill

Selwsm

Im after some advice please!

I received my water & sewage bill last week for this year and its gone up to £50pm.

I moved into my rented 2 bed flat 2 yrs ago and I am not on a meter. i have been paying about £45pm since I moved in.

I am a single person in a 2 bed place. i work full time and there arent any kids in the flat (so, the water usage isnt excessive - no dishwasher/hose pipe etc).

I think that £50pm is hugely excessive - so much so that I thought I may be paying for the whole building (converted into flats many years ago) - i have checked with the water company and they say that the flats are all set up individually.

they say i have been paying on the rateable value of the property as at 1 april 1990 (the flat was brought in 1996 for £33k - so not at the high end of the market - and falls into CTAX band B (based on property value as at 1 April 1991 - so not much difference!).

I am trying to get a water meter fitted - the water company have confirmed that on a meter i would be paying £21pm instead of £50pm!!

Does anyone know if i can do anything with regards to the fact that I have been paying over double what i should have for the last two years??

I know that ignorance is no defence, but with water as there are no competitors you receive your bill and accept it - as a renter I wasnt even aware a meter was an option!

I feel that its wrong for a company to make profit from me in this way - especially charging over double what they have confirmed I should be paying!!

Any help/advice would be appreciated!

Cheers

Sel

HappyMJ

You cannot claim the difference back...

The water company is not making a profit from you specifically. They would make a percentage on all the rateable value properties which is the same percentage when charged out by the cubic metre.

Being in a 2 bedroom property you could have had up to 3 or 4 occupiers so you could have used more than £50 a month in water but it would be quite difficult as you have no outside water usage.

macman

The water utility have no control over the RV value, they have to bill on whatever value has been assigned. Nor can the historic value be challenged.
Water meters are hardly a big secret, you've had two years to check whether you could have had one fitted.
As above, you cannot get a retrospective credit-your bill will only reduce once the meter is installed.