Waterbill problem

Hamn

Hi
I wonder if you can advise me on the following situation
I have purchased a leasehold terraced bungalow on a housing association site for the over 60s, for which I pay a service charge based on a twentieth share of the costs there being 20 bungalows on the site
I also pay the housing association for my water again based one twentieth share of the invoice Supplied to the housing association by Seven Trent Water
On the last invoice from Seven Trent the amount of water claimed to have been supplied had increased by 29% this I feel is an excessive rise, the housing association believe there may be a leak which is being investigated 4 months after the reading date, this being a week after I queried the situation, as I feel the problem may have been caused by a faulty meter rather than a leak
when the meter was read (7th Jan 2016) , the increase was noticed by the meter reader and commented on to our site manageress a quick investigation was undertaken by Seven Trent operatives who checked for leaking toilet flushes and dripping taps none were found to be faulty
Seven Trent then replaced the meter with a new smart meter.
Now to my problem
When we receive the next water bill I feel the amount of water supplied will have returned to a more reasonable amount, there by indicating to me if no leak is found that it was a faulty meter, although I think both Seven Trent and the housing association will pass it of as the residents are now using less water
If I try to claim that the meter was faulty how do I go about doing this with the objective of claiming redress for overcharging, and which organisation do I contact
Incidentally the site appears to be run on a self-financing arrangement with the housing association charging a management fee, all other costs being the responsibility of the residents via the service charge

Cardew

Unless ST have retained the old meter, I doubt if you will ever prove it was faulty.


I would think the best line would be to put your case to ST and ask for a 'goodwill' payment.


If that doesn't succeed then contact the Consumer Council for Water and ask them to take up the matter with ST. http://www.ccwater.org.uk/

Hamn

Thanks For your info

Robin9

Surely the customer here is the Housing Association and it is the HA to pursue this matter with ST.

Cardew

Robin9 wrote: »

Surely the customer here is the Housing Association and it is the HA to pursue this matter with ST.

Agreed, but presumably the intent of the OP is to give the HA some ammunition.

CashStrapped

I would look at the option of being able to fit a meter for your specific property.

I assume you have a stopcock for your individual property. If that is so, being able to isolate your supply with your own meter should not be a problem.

Is it written into your lease that water costs have to be communal?
Are your heating/hot water costs communal too?