Any way to reduce my water bill

bookemdano

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

Cardew

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

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

Does anybody know if there is an easy way tell if you are on a shared water supply?

Cardew

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

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!