Do I need landlords permission to get water meter?

confusedmummy

I live in a rented flat. I spoke to Thames Water who said I could probably cut my bill by getting a water meter installed. I explained that I live in a block of flats with two water supplies (a tank on the roof for the bathroom and a pipe into the block from the road for the kitchen). He said that in that case they probably wouldn't be able to fit a meter and I would get put on an assessed charge for a 2 bed flat.

I signed up online to request a meter and an agent from the contractors Vensis phoned and said I would need my landlords permission to get it installed as they may need to make some changes to the pipes.

I am in a bit of a catch-22 situation as a) I don't know my landlord well and they don't normally respond to emails to fix things so I am not likely to get a reply. b) The guy from Thames Water (who told me about the assessed charge) said it wouldn't be possible for the contractor to fit a meter anyway and I would need to apply for the assessed charge. However, I am assuming that Vensis will decline to even look at the property without my landlords permission?

The question I am asking is

a) do I really need my landlords permission since I am paying the water bill and according to this article http://www.housingcare.org/downloads/kbase/1556.pdf

"All these new rights are available to tenants as they are to other water
customers. Landlords may not use tenancy agreements to stop tenants who
pay their own water bills from choosing their method of charging"

- Is this still a valid clause for 2013?

b) If not, can I ask to be put on an assessed rate without Vensis actually seeing the water layout in the flat?

macman

You have to have an application for metering rejected before you can be put on asssesed charges.
What does your STA say about metering?

confusedmummy

macman wrote: »

You have to have an application for metering rejected before you can be put on asssesed charges.
What does your STA say about metering?

I have to check my tenancy agreement but if my landlord says no, can I apply for the assessed charge (which wouldn't require any fitting of any meters anyway), since I am paying the water bill?

HappyMJ

confusedmummy wrote: »

I have to check my tenancy agreement but if my landlord says no, can I apply for the assessed charge (which wouldn't require any fitting of any meters anyway), since I am paying the water bill?

Landlord can't say no to metering but can say no to extensive changes to internal water pipe layouts. The water company would usually just cut a pipe either in the street or where the main water pipe enters the property and install a meter which shouldn't be too difficult and they'll install a remote reader external to the property if they can't do that then easily then they can't install a meter.

confusedmummy

HappyMJ wrote: »

Landlord can't say no to metering but can say no to extensive changes to internal water pipe layouts. The water company would usually just cut a pipe either in the street or where the main water pipe enters the property and install a meter which shouldn't be too difficult and they'll install a remote reader external to the property if they can't do that then easily then they can't install a meter.

So, I am in a sort of catch-22 situation now. Can I tell Vensis that I don't need my landlords permission as per the Defra document? I really don't know what to do as both a water meter or the assessed charge would almost certainly reduce my water bill considerably.

bryanb

If you get a meter installed against LL's wishes you may not be living there much longer.

mart.vader

confusedmummy wrote: »

So, I am in a sort of catch-22 situation now. Can I tell Vensis that I don't need my landlords permission as per the Defra document? I really don't know what to do as both a water meter or the assessed charge would almost certainly reduce my water bill considerably.

Not really, as far as I can see.

Apply for a meter, then, if as in your first post, they can't fit one, you would then go onto assessed charge. (which your LL wouldn't object to) If they can fit one but LL won't give permission, then just ask them to cancel the installation .

macman

If you have a dual supply (which I'm not convinced about) then they can't meter it anyway, so the issue does not arise.
Why not advise your LL by letter of your intention to apply for a meter? If they're as idle as you suggest, then you'll never get a response back.

mart.vader

confusedmummy wrote: »

I explained that I live in a block of flats with two water supplies (a tank on the roof for the bathroom and a pipe into the block from the road for the kitchen).

macman wrote: »

If you have a dual supply (which I'm not convinced about)

The OP's arrangement is pretty common.

amiehall

This is the issue with my flat. We have a cold supply from separate stopcocks on the road but water to feed into immersion heater comes from a shared supply.

However, I have been in a flat before that had its own roof tank where metering was possible so don't assume that roof tank = no water meter. What is important is what pipework is shared with other flats.

bordercars

getting a meter fitted is a fundamental change in part of your property. whilst i see the legality allowance in changing gas and electric suppliers, they are reversible, getting a water meter fitted isnt, this can have an effect in the property value if say its a large house at present occupied by one, thus low water use. but occupied by many unmetered could or would be cheaper and therefore not as attractive to either future tenants or purchasers.