We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Will they MAKE me fit a water meter?

Options
Anglian Water say they are fitting meters to all properties in the area. They say they are legally allowed to fit them (Water Act 1991). They then say "We wont, however, be able to install the meter on your land without your permission."

If I don't give permission, will they still be able to fit one, ie will they take me to court or something? Anyone have any experience on this?

Thanks!
«1

Comments

  • bryanb
    bryanb Posts: 5,029 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Perhaps they could fit one just before the pipework enters your land.
    This is an open forum, anyone can post and I just did !
  • jblack_2
    jblack_2 Posts: 1,435 Forumite
    Most meters are outside the property boundary.
  • The 'taps' in the roadway outside our properties serve several homes, and no-one knows where the pipes go under ground from that point. Property 300 years old.
  • bryanb
    bryanb Posts: 5,029 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    The 'taps' in the roadway outside our properties serve several homes, and no-one knows where the pipes go under ground from that point. Property 300 years old.

    That's the water company's problem then.
    This is an open forum, anyone can post and I just did !
  • bryanb wrote: »
    That's the water company's problem then.

    Because the water company can't easily see where to isolate the properties from the one tap in the road, they would have to come onto my property and dig up my path to find out where the pipes are and where they go.

    I need to know if they are legally allowed to come onto my property without my permission. I need to hear from someone who either knows the law or who has had experience with this area.

    Thank you
  • greyteam1959
    greyteam1959 Posts: 4,710 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    They will be able to trace the pipes without digging anything up.
    There are various ways of doing this electronically.
    They will still need to come onto your property though.
  • silvercar
    silvercar Posts: 49,528 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Name Dropper
    I thought that if you are already a customer then they can't fit a water meter without your agreement. However if you have recently moved in, then they can insist on a water meter as part of their agreement to provide a service.
    In compulsory metering areas, water meters are installed when houses are bought or new tenancy agreements taken.
    I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.
  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,060 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    The deeds of your house will state the position on 'Easement' and the right of the water company to come on your land.

    Normally there is easement if a sewer or common water supply runs under your land.

    Take a hypothetical situation where there was a large leak under your land, and you wouldn't allow the water company on your land. In that case they would be within their rights to cut off the supply to your house.

    It may well be that exactly the same situation would occur if you denied access to your land simply because you wished to circumvent the law the allows a meter to be fitted. - i.e. you could be cut-off/have supply restricted.

    No 'one size fits all solution' and it could well finish up in court. However it is unlikely IMO that a water company would let you continue to be unmetered for fear of setting a precedent; nor should they allow you to obstruct a sensible and fair law.
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Is your objection to have a water meter fitted, or to them coming onto your property?
    Would you prefer to be without a supply?
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • Mrs_Arcanum
    Mrs_Arcanum Posts: 23,976 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Rules for enforced metering due to water stress from page 19

    Would seem that part of Anglian Water is in an area of water stress: -
    Water Stress areas PDF

    Looks like you are stuck and judging by this we may well be in for this ourselves soon.
    Truth always poses doubts & questions. Only lies are 100% believable, because they don't need to justify reality. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Labyrinth of the Spirits
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.