Severn Trent difficulties - mixed commercial/domestic property

EmptyShopBigWaterBill

Severn Trent are being difficult about our bill - I hope that someone has had some experience of this problem and has some advice about how to resolve this.

We own a house which includes a shop unit at the front. We have a normal metered domestic water supply, which comes into the property in the house, for which we are billed domestic water supply and used water. There is no water supply or drainage in the shop unit, which has been unused for some time.

In addition to our domestic metered supply, our bill also shows surface water drainage (measured drainage band 06 Com.) This adds an extra £200+ to a six monthly bill. We've just received a bill for the six months to November which is £99.99 for water supply, £59.14 for used water and £213.86 for the commercial drainage.

We think this isn't fair to be charged a disproportionate amount for water drainage for a commercial unit that has no water supply or drainage.

I've queried this before with Severn Trent and they said that they would not change this charge unless we bricked up the doorway between the house and the shop (!) to make it completely separate or alternatively, we would have to apply for change of use planning permission to make it part of the house.

We might apply for change of use if it's the only option, but if there's another way of getting them to change their minds, it would be good - we've been paying this charge since 2003 and it would be good,to get them to admit they've been unfair. During a previous conversation with ST customer service, I've been told that this was wrong and promised a refund and then been told the opposite and the refund evaporated.

Any ideas? TIA for any help.

Mykidsmum

QUOTE=EmptyShopBigWaterBill;discussion/4825336]Severn Trent are being difficult about our bill - I hope that someone has had some experience of this problem and has some advice about how to resolve this.

We own a house which includes a shop unit at the front. We have a normal metered domestic water supply, which comes into the property in the house, for which we are billed domestic water supply and used water. There is no water supply or drainage in the shop unit, which has been unused for some time. How long exactly since the shop unit was used commercially. You say that you have been charged this way since 2003 but state here that it has "been unused for some time" Is it ten years since the shop has been used as a business.

In addition to our domestic metered supply, our bill also shows surface water drainage (measured drainage band 06 Com.) This adds an extra £200+ to a six monthly bill. We've just received a bill for the six months to November which is £99.99 for water supply, £59.14 for used water and £213.86 for the commercial drainage.

We think this isn't fair to be charged a disproportionate amount for water drainage for a commercial unit that has no water supply or drainage.

I've queried this before with Severn Trent and they said that they would not change this charge unless we bricked up the doorway between the house and the shop (!) to make it completely separate or alternatively, we would have to apply for change of use planning permission to make it part of the house.

Why can't you apply for a change of use or do you intend to use the unit as a business sometime in the future?

Is your Council Tax bill based on domestic charges or are you being charged business rates?

We might apply for change of use if it's the only option, but if there's another way of getting them to change their minds, it would be good - we've been paying this charge since 2003 and it would be good,to get them to admit they've been unfair. During a previous conversation with ST customer service, I've been told that this was wrong and promised a refund and then been told the opposite and the refund evaporated.

Any ideas? TIA for any help.

EmptyShopBigWaterBill

The shop has been empty since about 2005.
We have separate bills for domestic council tax for the house and one for business rates, which are waived on an ongoing basis due to the vacant shop.

We could apply for change of use, which will cost of course, but we have at various points had interest from people thinking about renting the unit, and if we did take the plunge, it just takes away your flexibility. It's a big property and we don't really need the extra living space right now.

I've checked the local council rates listings, which shows the address as being mixed domestic/ commercial. It's this that Severn Trent say that they bill according to, which is why we get the two sets of charges on one bill. Changing the planning permission would presumably fix this, but my point is that if the council recognise that business rates are not due for the shop due to vacancy, why can ST charge you commercial water charges for the part of the property that has no water in, water out or even any roof area to drain into the sewer?

They have generously said that they would send someone out to inspect and they may change the billingif we agreed to close up the doorway between the house and the shop. The 'May' is important I think, as it feels like we'd be jumping through hoops which may not even get a result.

Gothicfairy

Severn Trent are right.. They bill to the commercial drainage in this case as that is the higher one and even without a supply it is still payable.
To be a band 06 it must be quite a large ish property ? If it isn't then supply them with a site plan and they can re evaluate that part.
However a domestic charge in this respect always comes last .. That is the way they work. If you want to pay a domestic for the living part and commercial for the shop you need to remove the access.
There is nothing else they will accept I am afraid.

Cardew

I suggest you contact the Consumer Council for Water http://www.ccwater.org.uk/ for their assistance. They represent the interests of water consumers and are excellent! Try phoning initially.

Once they are involved, provided you have a good case, which you appear to have, resistance from water companies tends to 'evaporate' (pun intended)