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Ongoing water saga, what are the legalities?
sacha28
Posts: 881 Forumite
We've been in our property for almost 8 years. The history is a little complicated but almost a year ago our tenancy was "taken back" by our current LL. During meetings to discuss new tenancy terms etc we showed the estate representative to where we believed our water meter was (where our previous LL used to go when taking apparent meter readings to bill us, before we added a set amount into our rent each month. It's a private water supply coming from ex LL parents farm). Lo and behold, lifted the cover and there was nothing there except the pipe! Ex LL insists the meter is there...it most definitely isn't and several people have come to check it's not suddenly appeared over the year.
Today another representative came to have a look for the meter and was surprised it's not where the Ex LL said 10 minutes ago that it was.
He has now decided that they will put a meter in, fine by me as I've chased this up via email enough times because I don't want it hanging over my head. He then said that Ex LL is unhappy as he hasn't been paid for water supplied over the last year so they will be looking at putting the meter in then averaging what they think I've used then send me a bill. Is that right? Can they, effectively, pluck a number out of thin air and retrospectively bill me despite having absolutely no idea what I have, or haven't, used?
I am not avoiding paying anything, I have tried over the past year to get a resolution, I would just like to know where I stand regarding what's fair.
Thank you 😊
Today another representative came to have a look for the meter and was surprised it's not where the Ex LL said 10 minutes ago that it was.
He has now decided that they will put a meter in, fine by me as I've chased this up via email enough times because I don't want it hanging over my head. He then said that Ex LL is unhappy as he hasn't been paid for water supplied over the last year so they will be looking at putting the meter in then averaging what they think I've used then send me a bill. Is that right? Can they, effectively, pluck a number out of thin air and retrospectively bill me despite having absolutely no idea what I have, or haven't, used?
I am not avoiding paying anything, I have tried over the past year to get a resolution, I would just like to know where I stand regarding what's fair.
Thank you 😊
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Comments
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The complicated history is here if anyone is interested...
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Thank you slithery, saves me having to gobthrough the whole thing!Slithery said:The complicated history is here if anyone is interested...0 -
Hi
thanks Slithery for reminding me of this, it was nearly 4 years ago
When our LL switched off our water the stopcock was locked in separate room which we had no access to.We spoke with CAB, Shelter, the local council and the police. They all said the same thing. Cutting a tenants water off, unless there is a very very good reason such as the whole property being flooded, is harassment which is a criminal offence.He wouldn’t switch it back in until the council spoke to him.The police wouldn’t normally get involved but the LL had threatened me.0 -
What does your tenancy agreement say about water charges. Please quote the exact wording.
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