Water company asks if my flat is furnished?

Gti

Hi everyone,

Recently moved in to a flat and was signing up online to Essex & Suffolk Water here:

https://www.eswater.co.uk/your-home/your-account/moving-property/new/customer-info.aspx

One part of the online form asks if you rent your home and if you have it for 6 months or more/less and whether it is furnished/unfurnished.
Does anyone know the reason they ask? I can understand wanting to have a rough idea of what to set up DD payments as each month but what business is it of theirs if the rental is furnished or unfurnished?

bebewoo

That's weird, I just moved out of a rental and when I was closing my account with Thames Water they asked me the same thing, I wonder if it's a new requirement.

matelodave

It may well be to assess whether they can impose a water meter onto you. Dunno if they can impose it if you rent unfurnished, but can't or won't if it's furnished.
Funished indicates a temporary let, whereas unfurnished can be a lot longer.

Cardew

If a property is unfurnished the owner is exempt from paying water charges. See:


http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/chargesbills/vacant/


I believe that some owners claim that their property is unfurnished between letting to tenants - when it is not - and it is difficult for the water companies to disprove that claim - especially in flats.


So I suspect it is just a way the water companies can pinpoint those properties that might need further investigation.

Gti

Thank you very much for the replies. I had suspected it was a sneaky way to get more data from customers to sell on. They will probably do that anyway though!