Urgent...is it legal to switch off my water?!

sacha28

elsien said:

When the estate took over did they not give you an emergency contact number? 

No, nothing 

KxMx

I would try the water company first, they can verify it's not a maintenance issue etc their end. 

moneysavinghero

As its a private water supply you should contact your current LL. They have the contract with the farm to supply the water. They are the ones that will need to sort it out. Ask for bottled water to be delivered to you IMMEDIATELY and until the situation is resolved.

SameOldRoundabout

If it is a private supply call the police. (On 101 of course)

elsien

Double check with the water company although if it's a private bore hole that may not make any difference. Then environmental health to tell them you have no water and can't get hold of the landlord.
However, aside from the ex-landlord being an !!!!!!, do you know for sure that he has turned the water off or is it a presumption? 
The police are not going to have this at the top of their list of priorities at the best of times and you need something sorting out today. 

HampshireH

moneysavinghero said:

As its a private water supply you should contact your current LL. They have the contract with the farm to supply the water. They are the ones that will need to sort it out. Ask for bottled water to be delivered to you IMMEDIATELY and until the situation is resolved.

This is exactly what you need to do.

Don't speak to your ex landlord liaise only with your current landlord.

In the meantime buy some big bottles of water and keep the receipts.

mattyprice4004

If the estate is no longer owned by the old LL I can't see how it's their issue - your dealings need to be with your current LL. 

[Deleted User]

sacha28 said:

Who do I phone? South west water? The council? The police? We can't be without water.

Should have known he would pull some carp like this, he has a reputation for being an utter a*rse but I've never been on the receiving end until now.

As I said earlier, contact Shelter for advice. You could contact the police but they are notoriously bad when it comes to landlord and tenant disputes. 

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/harassment_by_a_private_landlord/what_counts_as_harassment

sacha28

princeofpounds said:

How do you know he is involved? Assuming that he is...

What is the legal status of the water supply? Are you billed by a water company with your own account?

Report it to the police on 101, as harrassment initially and possibly a breach of the Water Industry Act (see below). Illegal eviction won't apply given he is no longer your landlord. Get the incident on record and get the police to investigate, if they will.

Then contact your water company and explain what is going on.

It can be an offence to mess around with water supplies e.g. interfering with a water main without consent under section 174(1)(a) of the Water Industry Act 1991

"Offences of interference with works etc.

Subject to subsection (2) below, if any person without the consent of the water undertaker—

(1)(a)intentionally or recklessly interferes with any resource main, water main or other pipe vested in any water undertaker or with any structure, installation or apparatus belonging to any water undertaker; or

(b)by any act or omission negligently interferes with any such main or other pipe or with any such structure, installation or apparatus so as to damage it or so as to have an effect on its use or operation,

that person shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale."

Etc. Etc.

The deal is that ex LL takes a reading and then I am billed via the estate. Not ideal because he could literally say I've used anything. I used to pay extra on top of my rent to cover the water every month (£25 a month) because he was so awful at billing that it was easier to do that then wait 18 months for a bill!

HampshireH

sacha28 said:

princeofpounds said:

How do you know he is involved? Assuming that he is...

What is the legal status of the water supply? Are you billed by a water company with your own account?

Report it to the police on 101, as harrassment initially and possibly a breach of the Water Industry Act (see below). Illegal eviction won't apply given he is no longer your landlord. Get the incident on record and get the police to investigate, if they will.

Then contact your water company and explain what is going on.

It can be an offence to mess around with water supplies e.g. interfering with a water main without consent under section 174(1)(a) of the Water Industry Act 1991

"Offences of interference with works etc.

Subject to subsection (2) below, if any person without the consent of the water undertaker—

(1)(a)intentionally or recklessly interferes with any resource main, water main or other pipe vested in any water undertaker or with any structure, installation or apparatus belonging to any water undertaker; or

(b)by any act or omission negligently interferes with any such main or other pipe or with any such structure, installation or apparatus so as to damage it or so as to have an effect on its use or operation,

that person shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale."

Etc. Etc.

The deal is that ex LL takes a reading and then I am billed via the estate. Not ideal because he could literally say I've used anything. I used to pay extra on top of my rent to cover the water every month (£25 a month) because he was so awful at billing that it was easier to do that then wait 18 months for a bill!

But now you liaise with them

Once you have sorted this get something in writing where you are guaranteed a bill from them on whatever dates a year and that you will be provided with a photo of the meter to show the amount of units used and the rates being paid.

It all sounds very wishy washy which may have worked when he was your landlord but won't now.

Who tells you no one is in the estate office? Where is this office can you go there?