I refused a meter, can I have an assessed charge?

techno12

Just this minute had a meter fitter look at my flat as I'd requested an 'assessed charge' a few weeks ago.

The reason is that the external tap that's used loads during summer to water the gardens / fill buckets for window cleaners etc for the 19 flats in my building comes off my supply as my flat is the only one facing the large garden at ground level (confirmed this earlier when he switched off my water - I wasn't 100% sure it did come from my supply).

I knew that I couldn't have a meter as I don't want to pay for the communal water, unless a second one was installed on this pipe, so that I could take 2 readings and subtract one from the other.

As this isn't possible, the guy had to put down on his form "customer refused meter due to external communal supply being connected".

He suggested I get that external supply removed from mine and piped in separately, but that sounds very expensive. I guess in the 1970s when the building was converted into flats they just took it from the nearest flat, ie mine, as metering wasn't widely available back then.

Much simpler just to get an assessed charge. Possible you reckon?

Cheers!

StuC75

Or have the outside tap disconnected \ shutoff.. This would allow you to control usage and benefit from bill.

as how could you expect to have an assessed charge and still benefit from supplying the communal area??

Cardew

Simpler agreed! but not possiple.

Your 'dispute' is with other occupants/agent.

Whilst your position is understood, from the water company's perspective, your situation is no different to me asking for an assessed charge, instead of the meter that I have, on the grounds I use a lot of water.

techno12

Fair enough, I thought as much but was worth a go. There was this mysterious tap outside my kitchen window that people are always using and it may well have come from a different supply for all I knew (the guy today managed to track down my pipe as it's a mess of 19 unlabelled stopcocks and pipes in the basement!)

I'm in one of those blocks where it's a faff with no management company, or we choose the wrong one (last one did a runner with some of our cash a couple of years ago!), so maintenance issues have been left, but I'll bring it up if we ever have a meeting again.

As I've been earning nothing since last July (started a new business writing 'apps' with several others) I'm looking at cutting down outgoings and this was always niggling away at me each year when the latest bill from Severn Trent arrived as I know full well I can halve it with a meter as it's just me in the property..

peachyprice

Why can't you just have the outside tap cut off then get a meter fitted?

techno12

That's right, I'll just chop off the outside tap and let the 1/2 acre gardens shrivel up.

I suspect it's a communal thing and I'm not allowed to mess with it, though as I now know it uses my supply I'm probably within my rights to.

peachyprice

techno12 wrote: »

That's right, I'll just chop off the outside tap and let the 1/2 acre gardens shrivel up.

No need to be snippy. It was only a suggestion to save you money, but hey, you carry on paying water rates.

Your neighbours can obvioulsy see mug written on your forehead as they can all pay less than you by getting meters themsleves and still leave you to foot the bill for the glorious 1/2 acre garden.

StuC75

The 'delboy' \ Peckham spring episode springs to mind [heh get it).. Not that Im saying you should supplement your rates by supplying water back to the rest of the building..

if the outside water supply has its own meter then the residents can pay for that use collectively, and you save on your rates...

Cardew

Just a further point on this situation.

A few years ago someone challenged his Water company about sewerage charges. He had a big pond and a large garden and argued that much less than the assumed 90% to 95% of supplied water returned to the sewer.

He won his case and marketed a meter that measured how much water was for his garden and got a substantial reduction in his charges.

The issue was discussed on MSE - and in the national media. The individual posted on MSE but was trying to advertise his device and I believe his posts were deleted.

deanos

if the tap is on your supply then disconnect it, that's what i would do, the landlord would have to apply for a standpipe supply for the garden