Just moved: shocked at water bill increase

Cookiepops

Hi,

Ive just moved home in the same town, must be a mile and half away from the old home. As we are in the same town with same suppliers, I presumed our water bills would remain the same too. I got a shock when one water bill has gone up by £5.50 per month (for supply) and nearly £15 per month (for waste). cant work out why its so much more (though husband reckons they must do bigger poos on this side of the town :rotfl: )
The water company said our old house was on on a different rate (licensed charge) and this one is on rateable value. The houses are no different in size and there is only about 5 years difference when they were built (1965 and 1970).
There is only 2 of us so should we go onto a water meter? Does the water matter affect both the supply and waste charges? as its the waste one that has increased the most. There is only the 2 of us in a 3 bed house but we do have a bigger garden and will be using the hose/sprinkler more.
Any advice much appreciated - Thanks

JJ_Egan

Bill is based upon rateable value of the property .
Same property's different areas can be a different rateable value .
http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/chargesbills/unmetered/rv


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5056

GolfFoxtrot

I'd suggest a water meter to be honest, if it works out more expensive they'll normally switch you back to the rateable value method of billing because you've chosen to have it installed (you can't ask for it removed if you buy a property with one already fitted).
My grandparents recently switched to a meter (home all day, garden to water and car to wash) and they've saved about £15 a month by moving to a meter.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Try this site
http://www.ccwater.org.uk/watermetercalculator/

As a couple, your usage should be around 100 to 120 m3 a year. In Severn Bent it equates to £37 a month.

Cardew

GolfFoxtrot wrote: »

I'd suggest a water meter to be honest, if it works out more expensive they'll normally switch you back to the rateable value method of billing because you've chosen to have it installed (you can't ask for it removed if you buy a property with one already fitted).
My grandparents recently switched to a meter (home all day, garden to water and car to wash) and they've saved about £15 a month by moving to a meter.

The water company will allow you to switch back to charges based on the Rateable Value(RV) if you apply within 12 months.(24 with a couple of companies I believe)


Without knowing the water company and RV of the property it is impossible to predict if a meter will be cheaper.


As said above, for two people the average consumption should be around 110 cubic metres a year - but watering garden can increase that considerably.

spiro

I was told the rule of thumb is if there are less people in the propery than bedrooms it will be cheaper with a meter. Several water companies have a cost estimator where you include number of showers/baths etc per week and it says how much you could expect a water bill for.