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Any way to reduce my water bill

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bookemdano
bookemdano Posts: 2,881 Forumite
Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
I live in an old town house divided into flats so I have to pay water rates as the water supply is shared.This works out at £7.19 a week, this is annoying as I know for a fact that if I could get a water meter I could probably half this. Is there anyway I could reduce my water bills? I live by myself and am at work most of the day so I am a low user. Is there anyway I could get a discount for being a low user and single person living in the flat. Seems very unfair I have to pay such high charges when I do not use much water. Thanks in advance
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Comments

  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,058 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    If they can't fit a meter you should get an assessed rate which, for one person, will be much lower.

    Contact the company and tell them you want a meter or the assessed rate.
  • skoop
    skoop Posts: 199 Forumite
    I am in a similar position I think. I recently moved into a rented flat which is in a large converted victorian house. I was shocked to get a bill for the year for £412. It's a one bed flat and not in a flashy area!

    I have been thinking of applying for a meter if the landlady gives me permission to. I don't know whether there is a shared supply or not though which would make it either impossible or too expensive.

    In the mean time, I read about assessable charges in the main articles and wondered whether that could apply to me. I was starting to think the rateable value they are using for my bill must be one for the whole house, but I don't know. I don't know when the building was converted into flats.

    Anyway these were the asessable charges for my water company

    http://www.unitedutilities.com/?OBH=4485

    I'm hoping I'm eligible and can get a bill for £307 instead. I'll be !!!!ed off if not. I'm currently paying the same as the assessable charge for a detatched house! Got to wait til Tuesday to phone them now, though.

    Do you think it would be best to phone or write?
  • skoop
    skoop Posts: 199 Forumite
    Does anybody know if there is an easy way tell if you are on a shared water supply?
  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,058 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    A shared water supply is not the issue.

    You can have a meter in your property at the point where the water enters - often under the kitchen sink.

    The water companies must fit a meter or give you an assessed charge.

    Just threaten them with ofwat if they don't comply.
  • skoop
    skoop Posts: 199 Forumite
    Cheers, cardew. I will definitely get on to it. The stopcock for my flat is below the bathroom sink - I don't know whether a meter would fit where the pipes are. Of course I'm sure a surveyor would be able to tell better than me though!
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