House interested in is 5 years old will it have a water meter

duchy

adindas wrote: »

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I understand if payment based on metered usage it will downgrade the price of the property is it true ?

[/FONT]thanks

It depends on the property and how lavish or frugal you are - a family of six taking baths every day would find a meter expensive - a single person who prefers showers may find metered water is very much to their advantage.

As to it affecting property prices- No. Property is a long term investment and within ten years almost all property will be metered regardless of age. You might find inexperienced first time buyers assuming if their property hasn't a meter that situation won't change which as mentioned above is incorrect. There's no significance to a property having a meter or not.

Rachel_123

We decided to get a meter fitted when we moved to a house that didn't have one 2 years ago. The water company quoted £50 a month approx without a meter, although I think they were basing that on number of bedrooms (3) when there were only two of us in the house. We use about £30 a month with a meter and not being particularly careful with water so well worth it. IIRC they also gave us the option to get the meter removed if we found it was too expensive in the first year.

adindas

duchy wrote: »

It depends on the property and how lavish or frugal you are - a family of six taking baths every day would find a meter expensive - a single person who prefers showers may find metered water is very much to their advantage.

As to it affecting property prices- No. Property is a long term investment and within ten years almost all property will be metered regardless of age. You might find inexperienced first time buyers assuming if their property hasn't a meter that situation won't change which as mentioned above is incorrect. There's no significance to a property having a meter or not.

Could they force people to base their contract on meter if you never ask for it ??

Will any house have to use a meter in ten years time ??

AnnieO1234

Don't forget that there is the Watersure scheme which, if you qualify, means you have capped bills. So if you use less you pay for less, if you use more you don't pay more iyswim. Xxx

Norman_Castle

adindas wrote: »

[FONT=&quot]I am living in London, I pay a fixed amount for my water bill.
The Thames water has installed the meter in my property which I never ask. I got a letter saying they will keep sending me comparison between paying based on metered usage and fixed payment until at least two years. I wonder what it means.

After two years elapse, could they force me to move to metered usage ??

I understand if payment based on metered usage it will undervalue the price of the property is it true ?

[/FONT]thanks

http://www.thameswater.co.uk/your-account/17386.htm

silvercar

adindas wrote: »

Could they force people to base their contract on meter if you never ask for it ??

Will any house have to use a meter in ten years time ??

If you are in a compulsory metering area then yes.

adindas

It is metioned here
http://www.thameswater.co.uk/your-account/17386.htm

" This includes giving everyone two years before they are moved on to a meter, unless they want to switch early and cash in on the savings. We will provide practical support, including fitting free water-saving devices that can help reduce a home's water use by up to a quarter. When we start fitting smart meters in your area we will write to you and let you know."


So understand after two years people will be force to have a cotract based on meter ??


Coud they legally do that when the intital contract, is unmetered ?? In adtiion, they are monopolist so people will have no other option but to accept even if they do not like it ??

silvercar

adindas wrote: »

Coud they legally do that when the intital contract, is unmetered ?? In adtiion, they are monopolist so people will have no other option but to accept even if they do not like it ??

Time has moved on. The old system based on rateable value is outdated, both in terms of the current view that water should be conserved and that rateable values have not been updated for 25 years.

You get the situation where modern small properties have high RVs than large old properties, purely because at the time of the last full review (decades ago) the rental value of new properties was higher. You also get the situation where a massively extended house has the original RV from when it was a little house on a big plot.

Charging based on usage is fairer to all.