Water bills

Water bills

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Can I install and water meter without permission from my landlord?

Posts: 24 Forumite
Hi,

My Fiance and I are in a rented 3 bedroom (2 doubles, 1 single(box) room). Both of us work full time and feel we would be better off having a water meter installed. We currently pay £50 a month unmetered and my mother in a 4 storey 3 double bedroom house with 2 occupants only pays £26 a month on a water meter.

Prior to moving in our landlord agreed to having our gas and electric meters changed to credit meters but didn't agree to a water meter being installed verbally. However, in our tenancy agreement it states we can change our gas & electric meters but does not mention anything about changing the water meter just states that it is unmetered.

I contacted Welsh Water to ask if we can be put on the assessed charge as we are not allowed to have a meter installed as per the landlord. They responded informing me that they only put people on the assessed service if a meter has been applied for and can not be installed for any reason. They have told me though that providing our tenancy agreement is over 6 months (ours is a fixed term 12 month contract) and we wait until after 6 months to have it installed (applying in the 5th month) then the landlord is unable to stop us installing the meter. Is this true? Also if we did install it and he found out about it can he evict us regardless of the fact that he can not stop us installing it taking away our rights under the Water Industry Act 1999?

Any advice, help or previous experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. :beer:

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Comments

  • Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    In a word, no, you can't. It's his property.

    Why not just ask him again and outline the cost.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • Posts: 29,048 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    I don't think you even have to wait if you have a 12 month contract. In fact Welsh water are empowered to fit a meter regardless of the landlord(or your) wishes; they can do this on change of occupant.

    I wouldn't even bother to tell him. Even if he finds out, you can apply to revert to charges based on RV within 12 months.
  • Posts: 24 Forumite
    So why are Welsh Water saying I can? Aren't they eventually going to make meters mandatory in all properties anyway so at that point he wouldn't have a choice anyway?
  • Posts: 53,128 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Unless it's a flat, it probably wouldn't be installed in his property anyway-it''ll be in the street.
    Unless your STA specifically forbids it, it should not be an issue. But common sense says that you should inform your LL as a courtesy. If he values you as tenants then he's not likely to object. Cardew is correct, the 12m rule applies in England.
    He can't evict you unless you breach the terms of your STA, and even then it's a lengthy process.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • Posts: 24 Forumite
    Cardew wrote: »
    I don't think you even have to wait if you have a 12 month contract. In fact Welsh water are empowered to fit a meter regardless of the landlord(or your) wishes; they can do this on change of occupant.

    I wouldn't even bother to tell him. Even if he finds out, you can apply to revert to charges based on RV within 12 months.


    I thought this was the case. Thanks. The house changed occupants (to us) in December though and they didn't enforce it then so has it not come into play yet? And do you know when they will enforce it? At that point, like i said above, the landlord has no choice anyway doesn't he?

    I was thinking not tell him and when we move out if he finds out then it's tough but as we plan on staying till at least we get married in 2 years then we will not be able to revert back therefore could he then charge us or keep or bond?!
  • Posts: 24 Forumite
    macman wrote: »
    Unless it's a flat, it probably wouldn't be installed in his property anyway-it''ll be in the street.
    Unless your STA specifically forbids it, it should not be an issue. But common sense says that you should inform your LL as a courtesy. If he values you as tenants then he's not likely to object. Cardew is correct, the 12m rule applies in England.
    He can't evict you unless you breach the terms of your STA, and even then it's a lengthy process.

    Thanks! It's a terrace house so then likely not to alter his house. The STA as stated does not specifically forbid it. I know that he will say no again, we only moved in this December but do plan to stay there a while. As above, can he keep our bond?
  • Posts: 29,048 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    jo54fne wrote: »
    I thought this was the case. Thanks. The house changed occupants (to us) in December though and they didn't enforce it then so has it not come into play yet? And do you know when they will enforce it?

    The regulation came into force 20 years ago. The idea was that eventually all properties would be metered as old occupants moved out.


    Some water companies enforce the regulation - others don't.
  • Posts: 53,128 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    He doesn't have to renew your STA when it expires. So why would you jeopardise that by failng to ask him? If you are reliable tenants, then he'll be probably be happy to oblige you.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • Posts: 2 Newbie
    If you have a fixed-term tenancy agreement of less than six months, you must ask the landlord’s permission. If your fixed-term tenancy agreement is longer than six months, you don't need your landlord's permission to have a meter but your tenancy agreement may require you to ask their permission for alterations to the property.

    Citizens advice website has the details.
  • Posts: 24 Forumite
    So to double check for definite

    A) we can do it without permission but obviously it is better to ask?

    B) He can't evict us during our STA but can refuse to renew the STA after the first 12 months (if he finds out)?

    C) Can he keep our bond in the long run if he discovered when we move out or is that safe because of the Water Industry Act 1999 as it is our right to have it installed?
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