Previously removed water meter - now what? 24 June 2015 at 2:26PM in Water bills 1 reply 1.6K views

justanewbie

I purchased a property about a year ago that at one time was split between being a Doctor's surgery and living accommodation. As I am doing some renovations and converting it back to a regular house (a few internal alterations), I rang up Severn Trent Water when I bought the property to inform that it is unoccupied so that I do not receive any bills.

Recently, I rang up to ask about lead water pipe replacement and they informed me that there is a water meter at the property. I have checked and cannot find one. The customer service advisor then checked their records and said that the bills (prior to me purchasing) were estimates for some years.

I can only assume that the previous owners removed the water meter when the Doctors surgery part closed down, however, where does this leave me with Severn Trent Water? I do not want a water meter for when I live there but can they 'force' me to have one as there was one there previously (even though it has been removed at some point in the past)?

Cardew

I do not want a water meter for when I live there but can they 'force' me to have one as there was one there previously

Firstly all water companies are empowered under the Water Act(of Parliament) to compulsorily fit a meter for ALL new occupants - owner or tenant.

Some companies enforce this provision, others don't.

Secondly your property would/should have had a single Rateable Value(RV) for the combined property, or a separate RV for the domestic accommodation and another RV for the surgery. Those RVs are invalid once a meter was fitted and so metering is the sole option.

It is also pertinent to point out that the water company/council probably have no record of the original RV(s). There is now no mechanism or law under which a council can reassess RV values, that ceased in April 1990. Even if they had a record of the RV, under the Water Act the water company do not have the discretion to revert back to RV charges once there is a new occupant and a meter has been fitted.

Thirdly any alterations to a property with a RV renders the that RV invalid and a meter should be fitted.

So I can see no way that you can avoid having a meter fitted, and hence pay for what you use!

P.S.
Technically the property is not unoccupied if people are working on converting it and using any water.(toilets, cleaning, mixing cement etc)