Block of Flats Shared Water Charge

skilgannon

Recently i had a letter from the rental agency stating i owed £260 as my share for water charges for 6 months ,i’m a tenant in a block of 12 private flats ,each with their own water meter. After checking my meter, the water usage for 1 month showed as 1 cubic meter (low but that’s what it showed) ,this i’ve calculated to be just under £4.50 per month (£1.13 /cubic meter + 90% sewerage +£26.37/12 months, standing charge).

The rental agency/landlord are unwilling to assess the water bills per flat and are using the meter thats located externally for the whole block and insist i pay the share stated above .I have yet to see the actual water bill/ breakdown of charges which i’m in theprocess of acquiring at the moment.

What options do i have available as the share of the water charges is over 10x my actual usage?

McKneff

If they want everyone to share the cost of the water, It makes me wonder why they have meters in each individual flat.

Have a look at your rental agreement, see what it says on that.

(if you paid individually, there would probably be a standing charge on your own bill so not as low as you think)

Cardew

Do any owners live in the block? What is their stance?

If there any water supply to the 'Common parts' of the block?

skilgannon

Only other tenants occupy the flats in the block,of which at least 2 aren't satisfied with the situation.I'll have to see the water supply bill/ breakdown before i can ascertain where the costs have come from.

Cardew

You need to read this carefully.

http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/waterresale/

Anybody reselling water or sewerage services should charge no more than the
amount they are charged by the company. They are also allowed to make a
reasonable administration charge.

What should I do if I think I am being charged too much?




You are here: Ofwat > Household consumers > Water resale > What should I do if I think I am being charged too
much?







First check whether your bill is higher than the average household bill in your area. If your bill
seems higher than the average, or higher than you think it should be, ask your
reseller how they have worked it out. You may need to ask some, or all, of the
following questions.

• What is the total bill, standing charge and amount for each cubic metre or other charge the reseller pays to the water or sewerage company?
• How has the total bill been shared between different purchasers (for example, by rateable value, floor space, equal shares, or metered use)?
• What is the total number of purchasers who have been charged?
• What are the details of rateable values, floor space and so on (if you are not on a meter)?
• What is the metered consumption of water for your own home (if you have a meter)?
• Does the bill include a charge for repairs or maintaining water or sewerage pipes (not covered by the maximum resale price)?
• Using the information that the reseller gives you, check whether your bill has been worked out in line with the rules.
  You may need advice from your solicitor or local Citizens Advice Bureau on enforcing the maximum resale price.
  For more detailed advice on your case, contact us.

Assuming that the Agent is not making a profit, then there will be winners and losers in the block.

spiro

This is the important bit from Cardew's post:

What are the details of rateable values, floor space and so on (if you are not on a meter)?
What is the metered consumption of water for your own home (if you have a meter)?

They should only prorata if they dont have anything better to go on but in your case there are meters so they should be using that. Also remember you need to add sewage on top of the water consumption unless that is shown differently.

The other question is, do all the flats have meters?

Cardew

spiro wrote: »

This is the important bit from Cardew's post:

What are the details of rateable values, floor space and so on (if you are not on a meter)?
What is the metered consumption of water for your own home (if you have a meter)?

They should only prorata if they dont have anything better to go on but in your case there are meters so they should be using that. Also remember you need to add sewage on top of the water consumption unless that is shown differently.

The other question is, do all the flats have meters?

i’m a tenant in a block of 12 private flats ,each

with their own water meter.

The OP hasn't answered about their being water in the 'common parts' cellar? outside tap for car washing? etc.