United Utilities am I paying too much?

misschatterbox

I have just moved into a one bedroom flat 2 days ago. I am living alone and in receipt of housing benefits. I live in Blackpool. I have been told my bill is £495 for the year and I can pay £45.10 a month. I think this is a lot for a flat. My friend has a flat in Blackpool and lives with her husband, they pay only £35 a month.

Just wondering if this sounds about right? Thank you

Cardew

A meter will be much cheaper!

misschatterbox

Not sure if I am allowed to get one put in or not as only just moved in. £495 year seems very steep for a one bedroom flat

jason1231972

misschatterbox wrote: »

Not sure if I am allowed to get one put in or not as only just moved in. £495 year seems very steep for a one bedroom flat

I don't think just moving in matters when it comes to water meters (though you'd have to check). Your should save money on a meter just based on your household circumstances, but some properties can't have a meter installed (due to suitability issues).

If you can't have a meter installed (on suitability grounds, rather than because landlord won't allow it), you may be entitled to a reduction on your bill, if you are in receipt of certain means tested benefits (which I think are JSA, ESA (or IB), or Income Support).

misschatterbox

Oh thank you Jason for that advice.

I'll get on the agent on Monday and see if I can have a meter fitted and if not will call united utilities again. I am on ESA at the moment and would find it hard to pay that much for my water.

Gothicfairy

jason1231972 wrote: »

I don't think just moving in matters when it comes to water meters (though you'd have to check). Your should save money on a meter just based on your household circumstances, but some properties can't have a meter installed (due to suitability issues). You have to have a 6 month fixed contract but that is the only requirement for people who have just moved into a rented property.

If you can't have a meter installed (on suitability grounds, rather than because landlord won't allow it), you may be entitled to a reduction on your bill, if you are in receipt of certain means tested benefits (which I think are JSA, ESA (or IB), or Income Support).

There is no reduction on a bill other then watersure but you have to have children or an illness to qualify. Just getting benefits does not count ( and why should it ? You can work full time and still struggle with bills )

Mrs_Arcanum

misschatterbox wrote: »

I have just moved into a one bedroom flat 2 days ago. I am living alone and in receipt of housing benefits. I live in Blackpool. I have been told my bill is £495 for the year and I can pay £45.10 a month. I think this is a lot for a flat. My friend has a flat in Blackpool and lives with her husband, they pay only £35 a month.

Just wondering if this sounds about right? Thank you

This is as much as we pay for a 3 bed house un-metered. Admittedly a different area but that does seem excessive for a one bed flat regardless.

Gothicfairy

It is quite normal for flats to have a higher RV as they were considered posh way back when..people wanted modern flats rather the whole houses so the rental income was higher and thus a higher RV was awarded.

macman

misschatterbox wrote: »

Not sure if I am allowed to get one put in or not as only just moved in. £495 year seems very steep for a one bedroom flat

Unless it's prohibited in your AST then it's absolutely nothing to do with the agent or LL. Just get on to your water utility and request a meter survey.

neilsolaris

I don't know if this is the correct place to post, but hope someone can help me.

I live in the top floor of a maisonette, and I suspect that the downstairs neighbour gets his water supply from the water tank in my loft space. The water in my tank does not get heated, but I assume it feeds through to the individual boilers/hot water taps.

Until now our water supply has not been metered, however the properties in my area are due to be metered soon. How can I ensure that after a meter is fitted I don't end up paying for my neighbour's supply, given that the tank is refilled from my loft space?

If a meter does get fitted, are we legally entitled to disconnect the supply into the neighbour's flat? Failing that, can we insist to the water company that we are not eligible to a water meter, and continue without one? Otherwise, is there a way of fitting a meter that can charge both flats for their own usage from the one tank (although I can't see how this can work in practice)?

By the way, my only investigation so far is talking a customer adviser at the water company, but her only advice was to speak to the contractors when they come round and fit meters. I feel it may be a bit late then.

Many thanks for your help.

Gothicfairy

neilsolaris wrote: »

I don't know if this is the correct place to post, but hope someone can help me.

I live in the top floor of a maisonette, and I suspect that the downstairs neighbour gets his water supply from the water tank in my loft space. The water in my tank does not get heated, but I assume it feeds through to the individual boilers/hot water taps.

Until now our water supply has not been metered, however the properties in my area are due to be metered soon. How can I ensure that after a meter is fitted I don't end up paying for my neighbour's supply, given that the tank is refilled from my loft space?

If a meter does get fitted, are we legally entitled to disconnect the supply into the neighbour's flat? Failing that, can we insist to the water company that we are not eligible to a water meter, and continue without one? Otherwise, is there a way of fitting a meter that can charge both flats for their own usage from the one tank (although I can't see how this can work in practice)?

By the way, my only investigation so far is talking a customer adviser at the water company, but her only advice was to speak to the contractors when they come round and fit meters. I feel it may be a bit late then.

Many thanks for your help.

~Customer services is bang on about this one..you need to wait until the inspector come and does the meter inspection as they will check the supply and pipe work.
Until then it is a waste of time worrying about it as you don't even know the location of said meters or where the stop taps are etc etc

~Oh and disconnecting your neighbours supply could land you in court if they are paying their bill..Your pipe work is not their problem

There is really no point getting stressed at this point as your really don't have enough info to go on and until they have reviewed the property neither do the water company.