Water Charge Paid Directly to Landlord Problem

YorkshireTyke69 · 19 March 2023 at 3:42AM

Hi all, I have been living in the same flat for 5 years and have been charged an additional £25 per month as a single occupant. Legally the landlord is not aloud to profit from charging tenants for water, a small administrative fee is permitted. I am contesting the amount having lived in previously metered properties and aid substantially less. This is where things get interesting, I called Yorkshire Water for a meter fitting call back having researched that I could legally have one installed if my tenancy had 6 months or more to run and that there would be no major changes to the building in order to fit the meter.

It turns out that my building which houses 12 flats is not on Yorkshire Waters residential or business database, a water wholesaler was suggested, namely Everflow, having contacted them they told me the same, they were not on their database.

All communications with my landlord are through their letting agent. My landlord refuses to tell me who the supplier is and the letting agent is not helping either.

I have also been told in no uncertain terms that I am not to have a meter installed. Given all what has transpired I am strarting to think that the building was previously only 4 flats, a water feed would have been in the building, the feed has since been split between all 12 flats and each flat has been charged individually for their water supplyand are pocketing the money. Yorkshire Water insist that I get the landlord to contact them, given the circumstances if they haven't contacted them in the last 5 or 6 years they arent going to do it now and find they are liable for years of unpaid water charges.

I am lost as to what to do, I have officially asked the letting agent via email to provide me with the buildings supplier and or forward the email to my landlord. There must be some action I can take to resolve this.

Any thoughts please.

Regards

Simon