Water rates for unoccupied property

SMOKERSMITH

Hi, I hope someone can help me with this.

I bought a property in July 2008 that I have been SLOWLY renovating at weekends. It is a victorian property and has been completely stripped back to the carcass with all new plumbing, electric, kitchen, bathroom etc.

Southern water are insisting that I owe them over £1400 for unpaid water rates (and only dating back to April 2010. The property has been unoccupied and I have been living with parents.

The council granted exemption from Council tax from Jul08-July09 and policy doesnt allow them to grant expemption past 12 months whether the property is habitable or not.

A small amount of water is used for the odd toilet flush and filling a bucket, kettle etc. If I had been on a meter I would have been charged around £80 per year standing charge and and whatever the rate is for the volume of water used. For 5 years this would be approx £400 standing charge and I reckon maybe another £30 per year for actual water used (£550 all told).

As I'm not on a meter they say they cant prove I havent used the water and therefore owe them £1400. I have invited them to inspect the property which is clearly not occopied, but they declined and told me to cough up.

I know its partly my fault for not getting a water meter installed when I bought it but wondered if I should continue to dispute it or pay up this big bill that probably works out to over £1 per litre of water used!

I look forward to any advice.

Cheers

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

The Ofwat guidance on unoccupied buildings is here:

http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/chargesbills/vacant/

Unfortunately it isn't technically 'unoccupied' (you could be watering the garden every night!!)

However it the circumstances it is obviously silly to charge to full rates.

I would contact the Consumer Council for Water and see if they will contact the water company on your behalf. http://www.ccwater.org.uk/