Can't have a water meter - options?

paulpud

We've recently bought a house that needs a full renovation that will be done over a fairly long period of time and the annual charge from the water company, based on a rateable value, is currently almost £600 per year.

Our water consumption is usually low - we pay around £260.00 per year on a meter where we live - and until this renovation is complete we'll use next to nothing at this other house so in an effort to reduce the bill we applied for a water meter at the earliest opportunity. A survey has since revealed that we are connected to an old steel pipe shared with a neighbour and they won't fit an internal meter such as the one we have at home. The surveyor seemed to think the next step would be straightforward - we dig down to expose the nearest joint on the supply pipe to allow for it to be capped off and the water company install a new mains from the street at a cost to us of around £300-£400 as it would be subsidised by a scheme to replace old pipes.

We were expecting a call to advise us on estimated costs, but instead we were contacted and told to apply for a new connection, which we did, but stopped just before we made payment as, at this moment in time, we aren't 100% sure we want a new connection but we do want to reduce our bills. My partner has spoken to someone again at the water company, and they've suggested we're looking at a figure of around £1800 for a new connection.

As we have a functioning water supply, that would be £1800 we weren't expecting to pay, naively assuming we could have an internal meter fitted as at home.

Do we have any alternative avenues to explore? I did consider asking for a temporary disconnection but, being on a shared supply, I suspect they wouldn't do this either. I have read about an assessed charge but they haven't offered this to us - is this something we can ask for?

Debbie_Savard

WHich company supplies the new house?

Ectophile

This OFWAT page https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/households/your-water-bill/assessed/ implies that you need to apply for a meter. Then when they say you can't have one, you ask for an assessed charge instead.

patman99

My F-in-L is on a shared pipe and he has a meter in his house under the sink so it can be done.

Anyway, £1800 to install you your own water feed from the mains is a worthwhile investment. The pressure drop when your neighbour runs a bath, or puts on the washing machine will never be an issue for you.

paulpud

Debbie_Savard wrote: »

WHich company supplies the new house?

Welsh Water are responsible for the supply

patman99 wrote: »

My F-in-L is on a shared pipe and he has a meter in his house under the sink so it can be done.

Anyway, £1800 to install you your own water feed from the mains is a worthwhile investment. The pressure drop when your neighbour runs a bath, or puts on the washing machine will never be an issue for you.

I'm not sure why they won't fit an internal meter, because I can't really see a problem other than it's an old galvanised iron pipe coming in. Water pressure is decent enough and I don't think the odd drop would bother us but we may have to bite the bullet and pay up if all else fails.

longwalks1

We had Affinity Water come out to look to fit one but they couldnt becuase of the location of our stopc0ck, and how small a cupboard it is in. As there are only 2 of us in the house the guy told us they would adjust our water rates down to reflect this, as it was not our fault we couldnt have a meter fitted

We live in a 1930's semi