Shared Water Meter -

GY!BE

Hi there,

could anybody tell me if there are laws regarding shared water meters?

I live in a block of six flats, we have a single water meter at the front of the property. I have queried the Housing Assoc., about the charges - they say they receive a bill from water comapny, and split this 6-ways.
I live alone.
Next door has couple and child, and washing machine (I hear this every night spinning)
Another couple on ground floor.
4 of 6 blocks are single occupancy. (I think)

I have previously sent correspondence to both HA and water company - they played me off with stating it was their policy and couldn't be change (HA) - and already have a meter (wc)

Any thoughts, be appreciated.

GY!BE

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.


I don't believe there is any law that covers your situation; and as the HA states it is simply a matter of policy.


However you can get confirmation(or not) from the Consumer Council for Water - http://www.ccwater.org.uk/


The pipework in many blocks of flats will not allow individual water meters. If it did you would find yourself paying standing charges for both water and sewerage which, depending on the water company, can be very high.

ChumpusRex

New build flats have been legally required to have individual water meters since about 2001. Sometimes, flats built since then haven't had them fitted by mistake, but as soon as the problem gets noticed, the landlord is legally required to install them.

Older flats do not need to have individual water meters, and a single meter for the block, with the landlord dividing up the bill, is a common and acceptable system.

It is up to the landlord if they wish to fit new plumbing and water meters for individual flats. If they don't want to fit them, or they can't fit them (because there is no space for new pipng, or because certain pipework is shared, e.g. a shared hot water system), then there is nothing you can do.

GY!BE

Thanks for the replies -

The HA are charging 3.62£ per week - I am not sure if this is a fair price - mind you - the standing charge might be the problem.. did not think of that , although...

(OT) My last gas bill (041215-290216) was for 23.83£ - and my actual gas usage was 0.91£ - standing charge of 21.79£ - I am a very low user - same as water. Same as electricty.

I must be paying the most expensive gas in the country - It annoys me that a low-user gets charged more. When I first moved in BG has no standing charge, and it was usual for me to receive bills for 10£ (winter) and 3£ (summer) - to me, a standing charge is a con - a rip off. It is there. It will not move. It has paid for itself more than enough.

I would happily pay a higher charge on units used (currently 0.041£ - 4pence a unit!!) I would happily pay 5 times the unit charge to lose the standing charge.

My water heater, central heating (used about three times in 7 years!) (shower etc) runs off gas - just a thought - how hard is it to change a gas water heater into an electric water heater.. I could then have the gas meter removed...

anyways, thanks!

Cardew

Firstly for gas and electricity there is a firm called Ebico that has no daily standing charge(DSC), but a high price per unit(kWh) - about 5p/kWh; there are others with a very low DSC. Just enter your details in a comparison website to get the best deal.


As for water, £3.62 a week(£188pa) is very cheap. You don't say where you live, but in some areas you might pay over £100 for a DSC.


On a more general point concerning a DSC for water, someone has to pay for the water infrastructure - the supply to your property has to be maintained and leaks mended etc. It is also not just for providing you with water and sewerage; storm drains etc have to be provided.

GY!BE

Thanks for the FANTASTIC reply...

Just used the Ebico quote - just under 110£ per year - for BOTH! Fantastic. Will be calling tomorrow...

I do understand to daily charge - but I still stand by my comment - it is a rip off for low users.


UPDATE

Just signed up with Ebico - saving aprrox. 160£ per year.

Thank You.

tomthered

£3.62 per week is £188.24 per year which is pretty good. Average on a meter for 1 person in NW area is about £272