United Utilities am I paying too much?

macman

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.

Why 'suspect' when you can check this in a few minutes with a flow test from his flat?

neilsolaris

Gothicfairy wrote: »

~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.

Thanks Robert for your reply. I wasn't sure the extent to which they check internal pipes before fitting meters, but hopefully from what you say it will be thorough. In the letter I got from the water company, most meters will be fitted externally, and the contractors would not need access to our property, so I was a bit concerned that it would all be done whilst I was not at home, and therefore not able to speak to them. It's not a major stress to me, but I like to know how these things will work in advance.

By the way, is it usual in a maisonette for both properties to share a water tank?

neilsolaris

macman wrote: »

Why 'suspect' when you can check this in a few minutes with a flow test from his flat?

Technically I can't as I don't have access to the other property, but obviously I'll need to ask him at some point soon, if the contractors don't do any tests in the meantime. The reason I "suspect" is because I sometimes hear the tank refill itself in the morning, before I've used any water.

macman

Well why can't you ask him, clearly it needs his co-operation to resolve the issue, it's as much in his interests as yours.

neilsolaris

macman wrote: »

Well why can't you ask him, clearly it needs his co-operation to resolve the issue, it's as much in his interests as yours.

That's something I plan to do very soon, but I'm making initial inquiries today, hence gaining advice on the forum here.

macman

Or wait until he starts running a bath, turn off the water in your flat, nip up to the loft and check the flow.

neilsolaris

macman wrote: »

Or wait until he starts running a bath, turn off the water in your flat, nip up to the loft and check the flow.

Thanks - I think in that case he definitely uses water from the tank then, as I can hear it refill in the morning before I use any water. The loft space is right next to my bedroom, which is a sort of attic room you see.

macman

Quite possible if a bodged conversion was done from the original single house. Does that tank also supply your flat though?

neilsolaris

I'm quite sure the water tank feeds my flat too - I'll double check this when I get home. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a dodgy conversion though.

jason1231972

Gothicfairy wrote: »

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 )

Oops, was confusing WaterSure (didn't even know what this was called, I knew there was some kind of scheme, but didn't realise your circs had to be more specific than just being on benefits) with single person household tarrif (which you're right, you don't need to be on benefits for, but could still apply to the OP).

From United Utilities:

We are not allowed to amend the charges on bills based on the number of people living in the property.

For households where there are only one or two people, it can often be cheaper to have a water meter installed, and only pay for the actual amount of water you use.

Use our online water meter calculator to see if you could save money. We install water meters free of charge for household customers.

If you live alone, and we have confirmed that we are unable to fit a water meter at your property, you may be eligible for our single person household tariff.