What is your rateable value?

spanielson

I'm renting a one bedroom house in West London and the rateable value is £380 which means the annual water bill is going to be about £550 for the year. This seems ridiculously high, can anyone let me know what their rateable value is for a similar sized property or location?

matelodave

Rateable value for your house & location has no correlation with the RV for anywhere else, possibly even the place next door.

The RV's were based on the old rates system and was carried forward by the water companies, so it isn't related to the present council tax system either.

The way to reduce your water bills is to have a meter fitted - you then pay for what you use rather than on some fictitious number dreamed up years ago

spanielson

Thanks, landlord won't allow a meter to be fitted so is there any way to have the RV re-assessed? I'm surprised a 1 bed flat could be worth that much in 1990 or whenever the values were set.

matelodave

No the RV amounts were fixed and have never been nor will be revised. A water meter is the only solution. The water co could have insisted that you had one fitted when you moved in and took over the water bill - perhaps you could ask them to "insist" and then the LL wont be able to object

Cardew

The landlord cannot prevent you getting a meter.

macman

As above, as long as you have a minimum 6m tenancy the LL has no influence on it whatsoever, TW may anyway fit a meter regardless, as is their right when there is a new occupier. Fit one anyway and revert to RV billing within 12m if there is no saving-you cannot lose. If a meter cannot technically be fitted, request assessed billing instead.