getting metering in a freehold block

de1amo

İ own a flat in a freehold block of flats and want to get metering. The freehold company have applied top the water company and have been quoted 3000 quid(about 2 years ago) and do not want to go ahead due to metering becoming compulsory in 2017 and thus putting the onus of the water company...i want metering asap because my flat is empty and i am paying for everyone else's usage.

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could one flat apply for a meter and force the water company to act in conversion??

macman

If the flat is empty, why don't you ask the water co. to void it for billing?
Metering is not 'becoming compulsory in 2017', it's been compulsory on change of occupier for years, should the water co. want to enforce it.
However it may not be physically possible to meter due to the common supply-in which case asked for assessed billing instead.

de1amo

the bill is paid as a part of the communal charges and like you said a common supply...people have come and gone in the past 2 years and the water company show no sign of wanting to provide metering....i can't void my charges because it is paid as a whole.

Cardew

If it is a common supply, presumably it will have a single meter for the whole block? A fairly common arrangement in London.

Without individual meters, how will that help you with your empty flat?

Or do you envisage individual meters? If so who will pay? - the freehold company or the water company?

Also, as mentioned above, it is possible/probable the individual flat's water supply will be unsuitable for meter.

macman

de1amo wrote: »

the bill is paid as a part of the communal charges and like you said a common supply...people have come and gone in the past 2 years and the water company show no sign of wanting to provide metering....i can't void my charges because it is paid as a whole.

Which wasn't made clear in your original post. The water is therefore part of your service charge, which is payable whether you occupy the property or not.