Water charges for neighbour - Water company suggests New Connection

dvdobrn

I have a problem with a shared connection for 2 businesses and 1 residential property. There is a water meter in the street, I have 1 business with no meter, the other business has a meter by it's stopcock and the residential premise has no meter but is on domestic water rates. I am being charged for all the shared water meter minus the other business usage meaning I am paying for the residential usage on top of my buisiness usage.

Back in 1999 the residential premise used to be an annex of what is now my property but always had it's own stop !!!!!! and supply pipe, this was sold off and change of use to residential granted, the Water Company were clearly notified as they were moved onto domestic water rates.

I have asked for a meter but the Water company refuse and suggest the only way to stop being charged for the residential house is for one of us to pay for a New Connection in order to split the supply. I think the fault lies with the water company who, when notified back in 1999, should have either requested a New Connection or installed a meter at the residential property. They think it's the fault of the business/residential property for not seperating the supply despite this not being made a requirement when they were notified of the change of use. 

The residential neighbours know of the issue, I've not suggested it's their responsibility because I can't see why they would willingly move off cheap domestic water rates onto metered usage plus paying the £X,000 cost of a new connection.

Does anyone have the answer as to how to force them to correct the metering setup and refund 14 years of overcharging, or am I eventually going to be forced to seperate the supply?

Brie

So are the water company collecting money twice for the same water?  If you are paying for the residential use are the residents then paying you in order for you to pay the water company? Or are you paying and they get their water for free?  

dvdobrn

The water company are collecting money twice for the residential property, once through their domestic water rates and once through my business water bill. I am not reselling water to the residence.

Brie

That sounds like grounds for a complaint for overcharging then.  Do you know how much the resident is paying?  I'd start with that figure going back to 1999 (historical rates may be available I guess) and say that you have been financial disadvantaged by them.  Potentially this claim could be offset against the cost of them installing a meter for you.

dvdobrn

We've only had the property since 2020 but there has clearly been overcharging for longer.

I have complained to my supplier who doesn't see it as a billing issue, as they are billing what is being supplied through the meter, and have refered me to the water wholesaler to resolve the metering problem, and the wholesaler refuse to install a meter and suggest a new connection.

I think ultimately the answer is somewhere in the many pages of the Water Industry Act, as any complaint would ultimately be resolved by it's words, my fear is section 64 of that act allows them to insist on a new connection without giving a reason at all.

QrizB

dvdobrn said:

The residential neighbours know of the issue, I've not suggested it's their responsibility because I can't see why they would willingly move off cheap domestic water rates onto metered usage plus paying the £X,000 cost of a new connection.

Does anyone have the answer as to how to force them to correct the metering setup and refund 14 years of overcharging, or am I eventually going to be forced to seperate the supply?

Answering your last point first, I think you have zero chance of being refunded for 14 years of excess charges.

Residential water bills based on rateable value, however, are rarely "cheap". Most property owners find they pay less when metered. Water companies will usually fit meters for free when requested. You might find your best option is for the residential property owners to contact their water supplier and ask for a meter.

dvdobrn

QrizB said:

dvdobrn said:

The residential neighbours know of the issue, I've not suggested it's their responsibility because I can't see why they would willingly move off cheap domestic water rates onto metered usage plus paying the £X,000 cost of a new connection.

Does anyone have the answer as to how to force them to correct the metering setup and refund 14 years of overcharging, or am I eventually going to be forced to seperate the supply?

Answering your last point first, I think you have zero chance of being refunded for 14 years of excess charges.

Residential water bills based on rateable value, however, are rarely "cheap". Most property owners find they pay less when metered. Water companies will usually fit meters for free when requested. You might find your best option is for the residential property owners to contact their water supplier and ask for a meter.

Current situation, the water company has actually refunded 14 years of excess charges, but to my neighbour. The water company have also agreed to install a sub meter for my neighbour as a one off gesture of goodwill.

This has massively complicated things.

My neighbour is not happy that this has been forced on them, and is complaining to the water company and do not want a meter. 

I would clearly prefer them to have the meter and not have to be a water reseller, but cannot legally disconnect them. They have said they are happy to split the bill 50/50 but we are a shop using little water, and they are a house with a garden so a 50/50 split would benefit them massively. And I can see disagreements going forwards when the monthly water bill keeps changing, or say one of us uses a hose pipe excessively! Not to mention that in the Southern Water region, bills are going up over 50% this year!!!

I am installing my own private meter for my shop, which effectively means I could work out how much they are using. They will not like this, and I'm sure see it as an invasion of their privacy. But they are sat on maybe a £7k refund (£500 a year water rates?), most of which was before my ownership so they'd get to keep the majority, but they should pay me what they've been refunded for my years of paying their bill. I am thousands out of pocket.

I hope they accept they need to pay for their water, and either accept the sub-meter and seperate bill from the water company, or accept a private meter and pay their way as a percentage of my bill based on their own usage.

If that doesnt happen, looks like a neighbourly dispute will arise and we end up in court, which I do not want.

If only the water company had refunded me, and forced a water meter on my neighbour as they are legally able to do. 

Hey ho.