Relocation water meter

Beverley_Hillbillies

Hi, I live in a 1st floor flat of a 2 storey property, considering kitchen refurbishment which will involve moving the sink, problem is, under the sink is a water meter, it's a question of redesigning the kitchen to keep the water meter where it currently is (hidden) or moving the water meter, if the water meter is moved, can this only be done by the water company who installed it (was already installed when I purchased the property)

NSG666

It can be moved by your plumber as it's yours.

grumbler

NSG666 said:

It can be moved by your plumber as it's yours.

Are you sure? I guess 'yours' is everything after the meter.

Ectophile

NSG666 said:

It can be moved by your plumber as it's yours.

I can't seriously believe that the water meter belongs to the customer.

MaryNB

grumbler said:

NSG666 said:

It can be moved by your plumber as it's yours.

Are you sure? I guess 'yours' is everything after the meter.

It can't be disconnected without permission from your local water company. Read  Section 175 of the Water Industry Act 1991. 

My local water company notes a fine of up £1000 if a water meter is moved without permission.

FaceHead

I agree that it's obvious that the water company owns the meter. When they came round and installed a smart meter, it wasn't a gift. A quick Google seems to have water companies' websites confirm that. 

You (or your freeholder) also (probably) own the stuff between the boundary and the meter. 

So, ask permission (probably of your freeholder too) and then have your plumber move it. 

Rosa_Damascena

The water company owns it and costs of moving it can run into thousands.

Which is why I will be having the water meter (and electricity meter) in a bedroom.

NSG666

Stand corrected about the meter as it may or may not belong to the Water Authority.

Yorkshire Water, where I live, seem a bit more relaxed regarding moving a meter than other Water Authorities who are ultimately responsible for enforcing any regulations. Indeed the extract from the Regs below don't mention moving a meter just interfering with it's correct operation. 

175Offence of tampering with meter.

(1)If any person—

(a)so interferes with a meter used by any relevant undertaker [water supply licensee or sewerage licensee] in determining the amount of any charges fixed in relation to any premises as intentionally or recklessly to prevent the meter from showing, or from accurately showing, the volume of water supplied to, or of effluent discharged from, those premises; or

(b)carries out any works which he knows are likely to affect the operation of such a meter or which require the disconnection of such a meter,

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

Another_Level

Assuming the internal water meter is the property of your local water supply company, it can be moved.

Different water companies will have different procedures to follow, for example  https://www.unitedutilities.com/globalassets/documents/pdf/relocating-your-water-meter-2018-web-acc.pdf

Although they can alter their procedures at any time.

MaryNB

NSG666 said:

Stand corrected about the meter as it may or may not belong to the Water Authority.

Yorkshire Water, where I live, seem a bit more relaxed regarding moving a meter than other Water Authorities who are ultimately responsible for enforcing any regulations. Indeed the extract from the Regs below don't mention moving a meter just interfering with it's correct operation. 

175Offence of tampering with meter.

(1)If any person—

(a)so interferes with a meter used by any relevant undertaker [water supply licensee or sewerage licensee] in determining the amount of any charges fixed in relation to any premises as intentionally or recklessly to prevent the meter from showing, or from accurately showing, the volume of water supplied to, or of effluent discharged from, those premises; or

(b)carries out any works which he knows are likely to affect the operation of such a meter or which require the disconnection of such a meter,

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

Moving a water meter would be covered under (b) given disconnection is required in order to move it. 

Section62

MaryNB said:

Moving a water meter would be covered under (b) given disconnection is required in order to move it. 

I think that is open to interpretation of whether parliament meant "[temporary] disconnection" or "[permanent] disconnection".

As the intent of the section is to prohibit obtaining water and sewerage services without paying for them, it might be a reasonable defence that the meter was disconnected only for so long as it took to move it, and in the meantime no water was supplied.


That said, it would be wise and sensible for anyone wanting their meter moved to contact the supply company and ask for clarification whether this is something they can do themselves, or if the company wishes to arrange it.

That approach avoids the risk of misunderstanding, and also provides the water supply company with an opportunity to give specific instructions (if any) of the way the meter needs to be fitted to avoid a situation which is "likely to affect the operation of such a meter". (e.g. if the horizontal/vertical orientation of the meter is critical to accurate recording)