can't get a water connection

calvadoscat

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum.., I'd much appreciate it if anyone can offer any advice. We have just self-built a new property and are very keen to move in, not least to save ourselves paying a double whammy of rent plus mortgage for any longer than absolutely necessary.
We paid Severn Trent to connect us to mains water and sewerage in February. They claim to aim to connect within 21 days. This deadline passed and we then began to find ourselves fobbed off with dates. Eventually they told us there was going to be a 12 week delay because they had discovered that a road closure was necessary (they'd neglected to have the conversation with the council prior to this!). We duly set about arranging things to move in the first week of June which would allow for the 12 weeks plus some). 3 weeks or so ago, neighbours had letters saying the work was to commence in the next week. When we spoke to them, ST denied knowledge of these leaflets. Now they have told us the water will not be connected until August.
This is hugely stressful and costly for us. Does anyone have any advice about our rights on the issue, or who we could contact to try and get things turned around more quickly / some compensation? We'd be most grateful for any help. Thank you!

PasturesNew

To be honest, I'd just move in anyway. Is there any legal reason why you can't move in without water?

Think of it this way: it's the summer .... and plenty of people are heading off to campsites armed only with a water carrier and access to a public loo block.

Could you get a portaloo in your garden and a big water carrier?

No point throwing good money after bad by paying rent if you've got a house that's fully functioning except water. It's only water .....

calvadoscat

Would love to, but with 2 children under 6 years old, getting washing done etc will be a total nightmare!
I did consider it though - I'm sure there is or was a legal obligation on the part of the water board to provide water, and us being resident in the property might therefore force their hand?

Cardew

Contact the Consumer Council for Water


http://www.ccwater.org.uk/

calvadoscat

Many thanks, have emailed them. Fingers crossed!

PasturesNew

calvadoscat wrote: »

Would love to, but with 2 children under 6 years old, getting washing done etc will be a total nightmare!

A quick dash to a launderette 1-2x a week should sort out washing. In fact, I've found that launderette machines hold twice as much as a house washing machine - and do the clothes super quick (25 minutes!!).

I can load up my car, drive to the launderette, get more stuff washed and be back home again with it all pinned on the line in under 40 minutes. £4/load.

You're seeing what can't be done the way you're used to doing it - not how you could do it to be in your dream home.

The kids won't know/remember the lack of water in years to come, they'll just remember the hours of fun playing in the back garden (possibly even keeping clean by spending time in a paddling pool and with a hosepipe!).

Enterprise_1701C

All you really need is drinking water and enough to wash in, also with kids of that age it will be easy to use cheap wipes just to freshen up. If you have a local leisure centre nearby I doubt if they would notice if you sneaked in for a shower when needed. If necessary get very cheap paper plates for eating off, even disposable cups for drinking!

That, a portaloo, and a local laundrette, and you will be fine.

You say there is neighbours, have you asked if you could have water off them? If they are on a meter you could offer to pay, that would help with things like washing up etc.

Cardew

Severn Trent might supply and fill/re-fill a water bowser as they do when there are major water shortages in an area.

Mykidsmum

Just a thought, where did you obtain your building water for plaster and cement mixing etc? Could you not use this same supply method? Camping chemical toilet for bathroom needs?

Owain_Moneysaver

calvadoscat wrote: »

I did consider it though - I'm sure there is or was a legal obligation on the part of the water board to provide water, and us being resident in the property might therefore force their hand?

The reverse applies - there is a legal obligation on you to secure adequate potable water supply and sewerage to the building before it can receive its building control completion certificate and be lawfully habitable.

Connection of water and sewerage, even temporary, is one of the first things to get done on a building site.

deanos

If a road closure is required then they cant dig up the road until the highways give the green light, diversions and emergency services need plenty of notice

I would speak to highways and see if any road closures are due on your street, you can also look at https://www.roadworks.org/

As suggested above can you hook up a temporary supply from neighbors and chuck them a few quid ?