Surface Water Stanging Charges

ianthegypo

Just moved into a brand new 2bed flat, that is in a property comprising 7 other flats. We are renting said flat. Just signed up with Anglian Water, saw on their website that we have to pay a standing charge for surface water drainage. Fair enough I thought. But then realised this charge is fixed. If this building was just one dwelling, it would have one standing charge, £32. But as it is 8 flats, it has 8 standing charges, but the surface areas of roof, drives etc are the same, and the amount of rain that falls on the plot is also constant. So for what reason should any water company get 7x£32 for nothing extra? Ive spoken to Anglian without any adequate answer. There must be thousands of converted buildings that have this problem! Anyone have any suggestions?

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

Do any of you need to pay the surface water charge?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=192960

ianthegypo

Thanks for the tip, but there is no soakaway, all the water from gutters, waste etc goes into the drains.

Cardew

As it is a "brand new flat" presumably it is a conversion of an old building? For many years surface water has not been allowed to go into drains

If that is the case I would agree that a charge for a detached property should be split between the 8 flats.

I would write to OFWAT about it. There must be a ruling made on this for other similar blocks of flats.

ianthegypo

I spoke to someone at OfWat on the phone. They seemed to care LESS about the issue than the 2 people at Anglian Water. her basic point was that (1) you may be losing out but for some properties the water companies lose out so its all fair in the end, and (2) if they were to try and change the system to take flats etc into account then it would cost v.lots and everyone else would complain about it.

The flats were built on the land where was once a single large dwelling. Although it is not the same bricks and mortar for all intents and purposes it could well be still one big (newer) dwelling but is instead 8x 2bed flats. But there must be thousands of covered dwellings out there.

PS the flat is in the middle of Bedford, all the gutters link to a few points, and the waste from my kitchen sink goes into a hole outside, so im assuming this must all link to a drainage/sewerage system as i cant imagine there are any soakaways. The surface water from the drives and carports goes into a grating between our "block" and the identical new block next door. Technically there are 16 flats built where there were 2 older buildings.

Cardew

ianthegypo wrote: »

I spoke to someone at OfWat on the phone. They seemed to care LESS about the issue than the 2 people at Anglian Water. her basic point was that (1) you may be losing out but for some properties the water companies lose out so its all fair in the end, and (2) if they were to try and change the system to take flats etc into account then it would cost v.lots and everyone else would complain about it.

The flats were built on the land where was once a single large dwelling. Although it is not the same bricks and mortar for all intents and purposes it could well be still one big (newer) dwelling but is instead 8x 2bed flats. But there must be thousands of covered dwellings out there.

PS the flat is in the middle of Bedford, all the gutters link to a few points, and the waste from my kitchen sink goes into a hole outside, so im assuming this must all link to a drainage/sewerage system as i cant imagine there are any soakaways. The surface water from the drives and carports goes into a grating between our "block" and the identical new block next door. Technically there are 16 flats built where there were 2 older buildings.

I would be pretty certain your assumption is wrong.

It is almost certain that they would not have got planning permission for any build unless the surface water went into a soakaway. It is a mandatory condition unless there are exceptional circumstances.

All water from guttering goes into a grating of some kind. A soakaway is simply a big hole somewhere in the grounds(often filled with rubble) and is covered over with earth.

I would simply claim exemption from the charge stating that water goes into a soakaway. Often they will simply accept this, but if they send someone to check what have you lost?

If they send a form asking you to show details, simply put an 'X' somewhere on the plan and say that was where your uncle said the soakaway was(and he is an expert;)

Unfortunately the 'default' position for all property is water companies have to make that charge.

ianthegypo

Hmmm ok. What i will do is talk to the builder when he comes round to fix a few things, see if he knows where the soakaway is. This doesnt get around the fact i think water companies punish everyone in a flat! I shall wait and see what my emails to Anglian and OfWat come up with. I am shocked that no-one has encountered this before though!

nikkimaclean

" But then realised this charge is fixed. If this building was just one dwelling, it would have one standing charge, £32. But as it is 8 flats, it has 8 standing charges, but the surface areas of roof, drives etc are the same, and the amount of rain that falls on the plot is also constant".

This is a common complaint:

However the arguement is, is that you are paying for the provision of the service not the degree of use, or based on how much area drains etc. As the property is now 8 separate flats, all 8 flats will benefit from the service and therefore all 8 flats are liable for the charge.

As far as I am aware Anglian Water charge a set surface water drainage charge for ALL properties, whereas Severn Trent charge based on the type of property occupied. (I may be wrong).

There is an act covering multiple occupancy, can't remember off the top my head but I will try and find out and post back.

Cardew

nikkimaclean wrote: »

"

As far as I am aware Anglian Water charge a set surface water drainage charge for ALL properties, whereas Severn Trent charge based on the type of property occupied. (I may be wrong).

You are correct about Severn Trent.

They have 3 charges: Flats/Tce(£26) - Semi det(£52 - Det(£77)

ianthegypo

good news, i talked to the builder/landlord, and the property does have soakaways! Rebate for me!

wussu_2

ianthegypo wrote: »

...2bed flat... £32

is that per month? i'm in a small 1-bed council flat on an Essex estate paying an Anglian Water sewerage only standing charge of £159 a year