I am paying alot more

Sonyawisewoman

Hi I have owned this house for 11 years . My water rates this year are £650. I have always paid on time. And it just got me thinking how do people on benefits afford these water rates. Anyway I have spoke to a number of neighbours and they are all paying £30 a month max, we live in a very modest 3 bed semi. None of my neighbours have water meters and have same sized house and paying less than £30 a month. Anyway I have spoken to united utilities who have informed me the likelihood is , that in 1991 they did a market value assessment and because my house was higher spec than the neighbours it's costing me double...please help can I contest this? Is there anything I can do to get my paid money back ? They have discussed the meter option for the future. I am just so peeved that I have paid so much more than my neighbours !

macman

In a word, no. Your water rates are based on the RV (rateable value) at the time of assessment, and this is a historic value that cannot be challenged. The water utility has to bill you on that basis, and they cannot change that. If you have a meter fitted you will not get a retrospective discount.

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

The last general assessment in England for Rateable Value(RV) was in 1973 and stopped for new built properties in April 1990.

The RV was nothing to do with the value of your house. It was based on the notional rental value of a property i.e. the rent it could command.

There were many factors besides size that determined the RV. If it was modernised(Central heating, new bathrooms/kitchens, garage) was another factor.

That said if your 3 bed semi is similar to neighbours, I am surprised there is such a disparity between their RV and yours. Perhaps rather than ask them what they pay, ask their RV; it will be on the bill.

It could also be that yours was re-assessed at a later date to your neighbours - something like a garage being built, or an extension??

It could also be that you are paying for surface water drainage(SWD) and they have claimed relief from that charge.

Anyway in answer to your question, there is no way that the RV can be changed as there is simply no mechanism to do so. The question has been asked many times on MSE.