Metered of Un-metered Water- What do buyers think?

ValHaller

Will88 wrote: »

I have read the article on this site. The original question was asking more about if there is a stigma about being metered when coming to selling a house. Since this was something that my Dad had warned me about I thought that it would be worth finding out what others thought.

There may be a few people out there with their prejudices, but they seem to be fewer over the years as metering has become more widespread.

Basically, if you do it, you will fulfil Yorkie's rule of thumb and save money - which will mean that it won't be far wrong for anyone else who buys the house. The horror stories mainly relate to imbalanced situations such as families of 10 in low rateable value 3 bed council houses

phill99

ValHaller wrote: »

There may be a few people out there with their prejudices, but they seem to be fewer over the years as metering has become more widespread.

Basically, if you do it, you will fulfil Yorkie's rule of thumb and save money - which will mean that it won't be far wrong for anyone else who buys the house. The horror stories mainly relate to imbalanced situations such as families of 10 in low rateable value 3 bed council houses

What is the significance of a council house?

jellie

I've been water metered for nearly 20 years and still pay less per month than when it was based on the rateable value of the house.

It does make you less wasteful though and think about how much you're using.

As for putting people off buying a house, it's so common these days, it might do if they know they're particularly wasteful or use a lot of water for other reasons and won't, or can't, cut down. But it's such a small part of the cost of owning a house, I can't see it would make that much difference to someone.

ValHaller

phill99 wrote: »

What is the significance of a council house?

Low rateable value and able to hold a large family

anotherbaldrick

One thing useful with a water meter is to get a good size water butt and I use the water from this to wash the cars. This has 3 benefits.
1) You save money on not using mains water
2) As the meter reading is taken as the basis for the sewage disposal charge you save on this as well.
3) Rainwater is soft, has no lime deposit in it so it always dries out smear and streak free without having to leather off.

Just wash the butt out once a year (with saved rainwater)

DigForVictory

You've a three bedroom semi - that's the sort of size of house I was looking for when moving with three small sons.

The washing machine runs daily, & the lads need to be hauled off & scrubbed more often than that - I would *definitely* have had reservations about a metered water house.

If you can afford it, stay unmetered and let the new buyer choose.

cyclonebri1

I'm afraid I'm in the above camp.
It would cost me seriously, or restrict my present usage severely if we lived in a house with a water meter.
I'm guessing I'm in a small minority, so having a water meter won't put the vast majority off, it simply would me.
Thing to remember is you have the choice to have 1 installed, (given all that's been said), but you won't have the chance to have it removed.

You also have to ask yourself why the water boards want everyone on a meter, I have a few ideas on that and none would benefit me;)

Norman_Castle

OP. Also consider how long you expect to stay at the property.

anotherbaldrick

Round here if the ownership of a property changes the new owner when has makes application for the water supply is automatically swapped onto a metered connection and has no choice in the matter. Thames/ S&ESWCo.

Nile

Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].