Water meters

MrsCy

Hi has anyone got any advice. We moved into our new house 2 years and 3 months ago, after buying the property, we found out that it had a water meter. At no point in going through the sale, or in the property sale  information or descriptions was it mentioned that it had the water meter installed. Had it we would have looked into it before going ahead with the sale as it’s a 4 bedroom property, one  main bathroom, two en-suites and a down stairs toilet. There are 5 people , three adults, one of those adults is sen, who has issues that sometimes may need to use toilet more often than a normal adult, and two under 16, again one of these children may need to use the toilet occasionally more than another peer. Both are on med from a gp. Since then no matter how hard we try to watch our water usage, they keep putting our monthly direct payment up. It’s now just gone up to £87 a month. We have asked for the meter to be taken out as, we don’t want it. They wouldn’t let us know when it was installed. 

Admit that as a family of 5 that a water meter isn’t advisable as we will never save money. 

Won’t let me know, what the average payment for the area is for people around here is for monthly payments are for a 4 bedroom property. 

Has anyone had similar issues, where they feel they are being dragged over a barrel. 

I’m feeling like I wish I wouldn’t have moved in the house now. And that when it comes to us selling this house. It will cause issues and that we will mention that we have a meter installed. As I wouldn’t want to happen what we had happen. 

Le_Kirk

Probably difficult, given what you've said about those living there but what about education, no need to flush every time!  Also what is your situation regarding the cisterns, do they have dual flush?  This could save some water/money (after an initial outlay) but also turning down the amount of water allowed into the cistern after a flush by adjusting the ball valve.  Have you read your water meter to see if the figures (and the monthly direct debit figure) being suggested by the water supply company are accurate?  Do you have any possible leaks?

emmajones1976

Do you have to declare a water meter at point of sale, or is this lack of due diligence on your part?

As for selling...well no, some people will use less on metered water than on rated water.

user1977

MrsCy said:

At no point in going through the sale, or in the property sale  information or descriptions was it mentioned that it had the water meter installed.

Did anyone tell you it didn't have a water meter?

kirtondm

I believe that water companies can insist you have a water meter fitted when a property changes hands.
At least that's what happened to me. I moved into a 4 bed house wand was told as I was a new occupier they had the right to fit it.

So probably a moot point as the water company would have fitted one anyway.

p00hsticks

emmajones1976 said:

Do you have to declare a water meter at point of sale, or is this lack of due diligence on your part?

Having recently completed a TA10 fittings form, there is a set of questions towards the back that ask for details of the gas. electricity and water providers and the locations of any meters - but there is no obligation on the seller to complete all parts of the form. 

It seems reasonable to me that the more water you use, the more you pay. We don't operate a flat rate rates system for gas or electricity, so why should it be any different for water ? As Le-Kirk says, education and money saving steps are probably the best way forward - the water company will be have ideas, such as putting a 'water hippo' in your toilet cistern to use less water each flush. 

Grumpy_chap

MrsCy said:

Hi has anyone got any advice. We moved into our new house 2 years and 3 months ago, after buying the property, we found out that it had a water meter. At no point in going through the sale, or in the property sale  information or descriptions was it mentioned that it had the water meter installed. Had it we would have looked into it before going ahead with the sale as it’s a 4 bedroom property, one  main bathroom, two en-suites and a down stairs toilet. There are 5 people , three adults, one of those adults is sen, who has issues that sometimes may need to use toilet more often than a normal adult, and two under 16, again one of these children may need to use the toilet occasionally more than another peer. Both are on med from a gp. Since then no matter how hard we try to watch our water usage, they keep putting our monthly direct payment up. It’s now just gone up to £87 a month. We have asked for the meter to be taken out as, we don’t want it. They wouldn’t let us know when it was installed. 

Admit that as a family of 5 that a water meter isn’t advisable as we will never save money. 

Won’t let me know, what the average payment for the area is for people around here is for monthly payments are for a 4 bedroom property. 

Has anyone had similar issues, where they feel they are being dragged over a barrel. 

I’m feeling like I wish I wouldn’t have moved in the house now. And that when it comes to us selling this house. It will cause issues and that we will mention that we have a meter installed. As I wouldn’t want to happen what we had happen. 

This could all become moot as many areas are going to compulsory water meters and there won't be any choice.  Are you in such an area?  Even if not, if you do have a water meter it is rarely possible to revert to unmetered supply.  If you move into a new house, the water company can require that you have a meter fitted then in any case, again making the comments about not buying had you known moot.

It then becomes a case of understanding the charge (£87 per month) and your water use.  Simply looking at the monthly amount is of limited value on its own as you may be considering higher bills to catch up on past underpayments.  What is your actual water consumption?

giraffe69

Odd that 2yrs and 3 months pass before seeking any remediation.

TELLIT01

A very quick search came up with this from United Utilities "When you move into a home which already has a water meter fitted, you cannot make a request for it to be removed. In short, the law (The Water Industry Act) does not permit the removal of a meter in these circumstances."

It would seem you are stuck with the meter so need to look at ways to reduce water consumption.

Aylesbury_Duck

As above, see how you can reduce your water consumption.  There are some good suggestions in the replies so far.  I think it's entirely fair that we pay for the amount of water we use, just as we do with electricity and gas.  The onus is on us to reduce consumption.  I'm afraid you have no comeback on the vendor unless you specifically asked the question and were misled at the time you bought the house, and nor does it seem you can force the water company to remove the meter and put you on a rate.

ssparks2003

Have you checked that you don't have a leak if your bill is constantly rising so is the usage