Very large water bill due to a leak

Justine111

Hi, we have had our water bill in and see that we owe nearly £4000 for the last 6 months, they say we may have a leak, the drive is being dug up as I write this. My question is do Affinity water have a duty of care to inform us if we suddenly appear to be using so much water after the first month or two of higher readings instead of letting it run for 6 months and incurring such a huge and very worrying bill.
Any advice would be gratefully received as to what to do next.

Sandtree

To play devils advocate, why do you think they have more of a duty to check your meter readings than you? Unlike them you know if you've changed your behaviours that could materially change your consumption 

turnitround

To be fair to the OP I dont think many people constantly look at the water meter, Mine is under a grid behind my greenhouse , the last house I lived in the meter was underneath next doors car parking space. Iv'e not looked at mine for nearly a year.

sevenhills

Justine111 said:

Hi, we have had our water bill in and see that we owe nearly £4000 for the last 6 months, they say we may have a leak, the drive is being dug up as I write this.

My water meter is under my sink, so I would not pay for any water leak before that.

Misslayed

I got an unexpected half yearly bill for about £250 - normally +/- £10 after DDs taken into account. I immediately contacted Wessex Water to report suspected leak. Within 10 days they had visited, confirmed a leak, dug up the pavement outside my house, fixed the leak an reinstated. I got a refund for the extra bill about a week later. So don't panic! 

kazwookie

I had this I rang up the water company, they sent folk to dig up the path area, mend the leak, I then asked for a refund which  I was given, if you don't ask you may not get!

In my case the leak was after the meter near the house.

TELLIT01

sevenhills said:

Justine111 said:

Hi, we have had our water bill in and see that we owe nearly £4000 for the last 6 months, they say we may have a leak, the drive is being dug up as I write this.

My water meter is under my sink, so I would not pay for any water leak before that.

As you will only be charged for water which goes through the meter you could not be charged for water leaking before that point.  If the meter is at the footpath stop tap, and the leak is house side of the meter then the occupant is potentially liable.

In the OP's situation I would be speaking to the water company to try to get the bill reduced, assuming a leak is found.  If no leak, get the meter checked.

coffeehound

Yorkshire Water notified me by letter when the quarterly bill went abnormally high, but I don't know if there is a regulatory obligation

bris

The leak wouldn't affect any water leaking before the meter so surely the driveway is before the meter?

If the leak is after the meter which it must be then wouldn't you be liable for keeping the pipes in a good state of repair or lagged?

Ms_Chocaholic

Our meter is in the path at the end of our driveway so we would be responsible for any water leak beyond there.

You may be able to claim on your home insurance for the water loss.