Has anyone reverted back to unmetered supply?

ey143

I'm about to buy a house which was in Jan of this year had a water meter put in.

We have requested that this is reversed before we take ownership because if not, we would be unable to do this once we are the new occupiers. Affinity Water have advised only the current owners can request a reversion to unmetered and also only within 12 months of the installation.

My question is, can someone who had done this, highlight their experience of doing so. Am I correct in thinking that they will not take out the meter but simply change the billing on their system to unmetered? No physical visit is made by anyone and the meter itself remains permanently there, it just doesn't get monitored?

The reason I am doing this is because the house is quite large and whilst there will only be 2 adults and a baby and we would be better off with a meter, as the family grows and watering a large garden, washing and development of the property, I am concerned that we might better off on unmetered. In any case, I can request we are switched on for metered once I have ownership and have 12 months to decide for myself if this is economical or not.

Thx.

HappyMJ

If there is a meter and you are the next occupier in the property you will be on a meter there is no way to revert to rateable value for future occupiers or even to continue with RV billing if the current occupiers who opted for a meter years ago have reverted back.

You'll need to look at ways to save water. You do not need to water the garden. A lawn can be left to die back in the summer and it will come back. Plants can survive many weeks without water. You could install a water butt for those times when there is little rain.

ey143

That's not what I have been advised by Affinity Water.

What is the source of your information may I ask?

HappyMJ

ey143 wrote: »

That's not what I have been advised by Affinity Water.

What is the source of your information may I ask?

Affinity Water

https://www.affinitywater.co.uk/compulsory-metering.aspx

There are some instances when having a water meter is compulsory.
This includes the following groups:

• Properties that are receiving a supply for the first time
• Any property where a meter is already installed (This excludes customers who opt for a meter and have yet to decide whether to revert back in year one)
• Any property that has a swimming pool or pond with a capacity greater than 10,000 litres and is designed to be replenished automatically
• Any property that uses a sprinkler, a hosepipe or any other garden watering apparatus that is not held in the hand to use at all times

OR https://www.affinitywater.co.uk/reverting-to-non-metered-charges.aspx


Please note: If you have moved into a property where a meter is already installed or you are a customer in our SouthEast region, there is no option to revert to non metered charges.

ey143

Ok thx for that. Looks like I might have been misinformed by the individual. Do you know whether it is possible to have the meter removed completely by the current owners?

Thx.

Cardew

No it is not possible.

Even if a meter had never been fitted, the water company can still insist on fitting a meter on change of occupant.

MillicentBystander

HappyMJ is absolutely correct on this one. Now our kids have flown the nest we are putting our house on the market and did inquire with our local water supplier about the possibility of having a meter installed. It was only when we looked at it in detail that we discovered the 'metered by force T&C' for any new owner of our house. We continue to overpay for our water on the assumption that any new occupier would prefer the choice of being metered or not.

ey143

Trust me, for the size of property we are buying, we would prefer unmetered supply even if it meant that metered would be cheaper for us, initially. Though from a seller's perspective, I dont think any buyer would not buy a property because it was metered/unmetered. You're talking about the difference of a few hundred pounds at most, unlike the high cost of houses and the associated maintenance costs.

yangptangkipperbang

ey143 wrote: »

Trust me, for the size of property we are buying, we would prefer unmetered

= we like having our water usage subsidized by others !

notanewuser

ey143 wrote: »

Trust me, for the size of property we are buying, we would prefer unmetered supply even if it meant that metered would be cheaper for us, initially. Though from a seller's perspective, I dont think any buyer would not buy a property because it was metered/unmetered. You're talking about the difference of a few hundred pounds at most, unlike the high cost of houses and the associated maintenance costs.

What has size of property have to do with it? Will you be having more showers/baths or using the loo more because its bigger?

ey143

Very good point, I guess what I meant was, with a big house comes a big garden and the watering etc that goes with it as well. When you put it that way, then yes unlike heating a home it is not the same thing. Perhaps when used to an unmetered supply for all of my life and now the thought of paying per unit, sometimes being in your comfort zone takes some breaking down. Like I say, initially I would be better off with only a meter as there is only 2 adults and a baby, but may want to rent out some rooms etc. More smelly people to show and wash clothes, but yes, size of house is not directly relevant unless all rooms are occupied.