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

sacha28

He has definitely switched it off, it's not a maintenance issue

FaceHead

So your water comes from a private borehole via another building? You have an agreement with the owner of that building that they provide you water as a private water supplier? Go and knock on the door of that building and say to the occupant 'hello, might you have turned my water supply off by mistake?'

If they refuse to reconnect you, or as you private water supplier won't investigate your loss of supply, then contact your council's environmental health department. It's their responsibility to regulate private water supplies, but trying to sort it out amicability (it could be an honest mistake of turning the wrong tap off) is the first step. 

kazwookie

I would also be asking for a sub meter to be installed at the entrance to the property you occupy, so you can see how much has actually entered the property.

moneysavinghero

I'm trying to get my head around this bit:

He is no longer my landlord, the house I rent is owned by a country estate which took back possession at the end of march

Are you saying that this is some sort of country estate setup where in fact the country estate own all of the properties including the farm. Your ex LL used to rent your current house from the country estate. But he was illegally subletting it to you, so they took back possession from him and gave the tenancy to you? 

newsgroupmonkey_

What does your current LL say? (I know this has been mentioned about a dozen times, but not answered)

moneysavinghero

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

What does your current LL say? (I know this has been mentioned about a dozen times, but not answered)

OP has not been able to get hold of the current LL yet.

KxMx

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

What does your current LL say? (I know this has been mentioned about a dozen times, but not answered)

OP answered on page 1.

pinkteapot

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.

Repeating the above because it's exactly the right advice. 

Then, if you have proof that your ex-LL is the person who turned off the supply, report to the police as harassment/property vandalism. 

newsgroupmonkey_

moneysavinghero said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

What does your current LL say? (I know this has been mentioned about a dozen times, but not answered)

OP has not been able to get hold of the current LL yet.

KxMx said:

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

What does your current LL say? (I know this has been mentioned about a dozen times, but not answered)

OP answered on page 1.

Apologies. Missed that bit. I thought the OP was trying to get hold of the OLD landlord.

sacha28

moneysavinghero said:

I'm trying to get my head around this bit:

He is no longer my landlord, the house I rent is owned by a country estate which took back possession at the end of march

Are you saying that this is some sort of country estate setup where in fact the country estate own all of the properties including the farm. Your ex LL used to rent your current house from the country estate. But he was illegally subletting it to you, so they took back possession from him and gave the tenancy to you? 

Sorry I've been trying to sort this and school runs etc.

So, to clarify, my ex LL has an agricultural tenancy through a very large country estate and our house was part of his tenancy until the estate took back possession of our house in March this year. The water is from a bore hole on his parents farm, which is nothing to do with the country estate (as far as I know).

I am still unable to get hold of anyone at the estate but I have managed to get hold of ex LL who is being a grade A p*rat but has said he's turned it back on....but we still have no water and I have no way of checking that he is telling the truth. The worst thing is, by doing this, he has also left next door with no water.