Moving a water meter

jimfromcov

Hi All, I've not been able to find this on the forums, or much info online at all, so I hope I'm not repeating on threads...

I'm getting my kitchen renovated and unfortunately my water meter is in an awkward position for the layout I want. If I leave it where it is, I'll either have a naff looking column with an access hatch for the meter and main isolation valve in the middle of the room, or will have to distribute my cabinets to site it in the back of one, but this will still be a rubbish layout.

I'd like to move it to the back wall which I'm more than capable of doing / getting done (I have a reliable plumber and am not too shabby myself), so i'm not concerned about leaks, more so that Severn Trent will find out and fine me for moving "their" water meter. I've been in contact with ST and they have informed me that they are required to do the works, and I can get a free survey, following which it will cost up to circa £420 for the works. Looking at what would need doing, I'd guess it would be at the higher end of the range.

Does anyone have experience of this? Is it worth taking the risk, or is the likelihood of ST finding out too great?

Le_Kirk

Why is your water meter in your kitchen? Mine and everyone I know who has a water meter has it positioned outside the house.

Oakdene

Le_Kirk wrote: »

Why is your water meter in your kitchen? Mine and everyone I know who has a water meter has it positioned outside the house.

Mine is in my kitchen, down and accross from the sink

jimfromcov

Because that's where my internal main isolation valve is. For whatever reason, they couldn't fit it in the street by the incoming valve.

Alex1983

I don't know if your allowed or not but as long as it doesn't ever leak where you join it how will they know. How often do they read the meter, I can't imagine the meter reader will come in to read it and say it's moved. Just say it's always been there.

Rummer65

Mine is in the kitchen cupboard by the stopcock. Think it is wireless as the meter reader guy sits outside with a laptop to read it

Le_Kirk

jimfromcov wrote: »

Because that's where my internal main isolation valve is. For whatever reason, they couldn't fit it in the street by the incoming valve.

Weird, does the meter reader come into the kitchen every time they want to read it or do you send readings to them? Seems it can be for very old build or if a shared incoming supply that then splits to neighbours. However, like electricity and gas, I would assume only your local* water board can/will move it for you at great expense.

*I say local but our "local" water supply company is 32% owned by a Canadian Pensions company.

davemorton

Mine is also in the kitchen.

jbainbridge

My thought would be - how will they ever know?

Obviously you'd want the new position to be as accessible as it is at the moment so they have now reason to question it.

EssexExile

jbainbridge wrote: »

My thought would be - how will they ever know?

My only worry is that you've told them you're considering this.

Can they read it remotely? In which case they'll never actually see the meter.
Last thought, gas & electric companies inspect the meters periodically, do water companies do that?

lg13mza

I moved mine years ago in a old house. It stayed in the same room and the water company never knew. Mind you when I enquired about the cost beforehand I gave the name and address of a neighbour so not to alert them to it. Chances are all their records say is 'its in the kitchen'.