Do I have to have a water meter?

onlyroz

Apologies if this question has already been asked.

My water board (South East Water) plan to roll out water meters to all properties by 2020 and I think that I'm scheduled for one in 2017. Do I have to have one fitted? And if so do I have to accept the metered rate? Or can I choose to stick with the old rate based on the "Rateable value" of my house?

Thanks in advance.

matelodave

Yes you do. The water company can insist that you have a meter and it's not unreasonable.
We should all be paying for what we use rather than some outmoded way of guessing based on the size of a house or it's perceived rental value 20 years or more ago.

macman

What would be the point of installing a meter and then allowing you to remain on RV billing?

Cardew

http://www.southeastwater.co.uk/news-and-information/latest-news/2012/02/compulsory-metering-programme-reaches-tonbridge#.UxTA_XTiseg

Ms_Chocaholic

What is your situation in terms of number of occupants/size of property - you may well save money.

onlyroz

I doubt I'll save money - in 1990 our house was a 2-bed and it's now a 4-bed. We only pay £290 a year at the moment...

Cardew

onlyroz wrote: »

I doubt I'll save money - in 1990 our house was a 2-bed and it's now a 4-bed. We only pay £290 a year at the moment...

Well in which case the water company should have been informed of the extension and a meter fitted.


Of course nobody bothers - including Water companies!

joncombe

matelodave wrote: »

Yes you do. The water company can insist that you have a meter and it's not unreasonable.
We should all be paying for what we use rather than some outmoded way of guessing based on the size of a house or it's perceived rental value 20 years or more ago.

I remember when I moved into my current address I got a letter stating I lived in an area where a compulsory meter could be fitted and that they intended to do so, but I had to ring and make an appointment with their surveyor. I didn't want to take time off work so ignored the letters and was eventually sent a letter stating that they would not now be installing a water meter. Might be an option if you don't want one. I think it might depend on where the drain cover is. In my case it was not on the public highway so that might have been a factor.

matelodave

They came and fitted ours whilst we were away and the main stopcock is behind the fence in our garden, not on the highway or grass verge - they didn't bother with appointments, just told us when they were coming. The meter now sits in it's hole in our flowerbed - not somewhere I would have chosen myself but that's where it is.

[Deleted User]

Well I for one have been pleased by having a meter.I used to pay almost £30.00 odd a month and now my water bills have dropped to £15.40 a month.I live alone and by having the meter I have halved my bills.

[Deleted User]

My son-in-law has just received his bill from Soutern Water and instead of being £592 they have estimated it will be £980 per year He has four sons and him and his wife .Their washing machine is used twice a day and the three youngest boys share a bath.They don't use a hose as the garden is far to small to warrant one and they have a dishwasher thats used once a day .Apart from not washing clothes and sending the boys to school mucky he can't think of a way of cutting his bills at all !!! I am fine but there is only me in my house so my bill of £15.40 per month is OK