Renovating Property & Charged Full Water Rates

lindsey37

We are currently renovating a property that we purchased in July. We have used minimal amounts of water so far, washing a few paint brushes, the odd kettle for a hot drink (although we mainly rely on flasks) and watering the garden on a couple of occasions (again, we mainly bring bottles of water from our current home) but Anglian Water still see it fit to charge us the full amount for our water rates from July through to 31 March.

Is there anything we can do here?

Cardew

Get a meter fitted??

deanos

Have you informed them the property is being renovated ?

You need to ring and inform them and they will change your tariff, you need to let them know when you move in, they also do check properties are empty

macman

Your actual usage since July is irrelevant, since the billing is based on RV, and not metered.

yangptangkipperbang

deanos wrote: »

Have you informed them the property is being renovated ?

You need to ring and inform them and they will change your tariff, you need to let them know when you move in, they also do check properties are empty

That almost certainly won't do anything - full water rates are payable all the time - unlike Council Tax which can be reduced depending on the work you are carrying out. Get a meter fitted - quick !

deanos

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

That almost certainly won't do anything - full water rates are payable all the time - unlike Council Tax which can be reduced depending on the work you are carrying out. Get a meter fitted - quick !

Not true ,

http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/legacy/aptrix/ofwat/publish.nsf/Content/rd1305.html

"Anglian Water has a specific, fixed charge for vacant properties"

Cardew

deanos wrote: »

Not true ,

http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/legacy/aptrix/ofwat/publish.nsf/Content/rd1305.html

"Anglian Water has a specific, fixed charge for vacant properties"

Deanos, that is not in dispute.

However the OP is working in the property and it is not vacant - even watering the garden and no doubt using the toilets??

deanos

The property is classed as vacant as long as it has no furniture in it

If that's the case then the OP can go on the reduced tariff

lindsey37

Thanks for the replies everyone. We had informed Anglian Water previously that we were renovating the property and expected to move in during December then we received this bill.

We called up their customer services line and were advised to put our thoughts in writing. We then received a letter and bill from Anglian Water taking off 2 months' water rates, which we are happy with.

We have had bad experiences with Anglian Water customer services in the past but this time they were excellent and have been very fair and I think that they have placed a good amount of trust in ourselves.