Barbershop front of house/ business water rates?

thebarberswife

I run a barber shop from my home, shop at front. have done for 23yrs and have had a continuous battle with wave, anglian/ northumbria water to change my rates back to domestic as I don't have ANY water in my shop apart from my 300ml water bottle.
This was tolerable in the past as rates were £25 pm but now its gone up to £41.
Property is 3 bed terrace,  shop separated at the front.
Water comes in the rear.
I can get a water meter in but that would be attached to domestic side of the building.
Any advice on this would be appreciated as I'm just getting cut short with a constant NO from them.

marcia_

thebarberswife said:

I run a barber shop from my home, shop at front. have done for 23yrs and have had a continuous battle with wave, anglian/ northumbria water to change my rates back to domestic as I don't have ANY water in my shop apart from my 300ml water bottle.
This was tolerable in the past as rates were £25 pm but now its gone up to £41.
Property is 3 bed terrace,  shop separated at the front.
Water comes in the rear.
I can get a water meter in but that would be attached to domestic side of the building.
Any advice on this would be appreciated as I'm just getting cut short with a constant NO from them.

 Unless there is a separate supply to the business you should be paying business rates 

thebarberswife

Even though there's no water in the shop?
Has your water rates gone up this much recently? 

GingerTim

From which supply does your business fill its 300ml water bottle?

marcia_

thebarberswife said:

Even though there's no water in the shop?
Has your water rates gone up this much recently? 

  You use any water as part of your business, hence business rates. 

thebarberswife

There's only 1 supply to the property. 
I'm not arguing,  just asking. 
Has everyone's rates gone up?

marcia_

thebarberswife said:

There's only 1 supply to the property. 
I'm not arguing,  just asking. 
Has everyone's rates gone up?

 Yes everyone rates have but business rates are much higher than residential rates anyway.