Water Bills - Empty Property

Brunokid

I have an empty property which is on the market to be sold.
I contacted my water supplier (Severn Trent) to let them know that I had isolated the supply at the stop !!!!!! and do not require their services. In other words, I don't want to pay for something that I am not using. As we pay rates and are not on a meter, 'no can do' they say. 
They didn't charge me last year for exactly the same circumstances but it sounds like they are snatching at every penny now.
I have lodged a complaint but am still waiting to hear from them.
Has anyone else had any success?

Thanks

Bruno

Brunokid

Brunokid said:

I have an empty property which is on the market to be sold.
I contacted my water supplier (Severn Trent) to let them know that I had isolated the supply at the stop !!!!!! and do not require their services. In other words, I don't want to pay for something that I am not using. As we pay rates and are not on a meter, 'no can do' they say. 
They didn't charge me last year for exactly the same circumstances but it sounds like they are snatching at every penny now.
I have lodged a complaint but am still waiting to hear from them.
Has anyone else had any success?

Thanks

Bruno

!!!!!! = Stop Tap

HampshireH

Like any company they may have a small amount of leeway and may offer a discount but the longer a property stands empty they will resume charges (or double them in council tax cases.)

Severn Trent have all the info about empty properties on the website.

They offer a disconnection for free but a small payment for reconnection.

However how are you managing the cold months damp and the boiler etc? Or have you just isolated everything and won't be heating it

JGB1955

AIUI if your surface water drains into a public sewer then there is still a charge to pay.

Rodders53

Property is obviously overpriced or uniquely unattractive if taking years to sell.  Drop the price?

or

Get a water meter fitted.  The standing charges with zero consumption should be less than the Rateable Valuation charges.

or

Ask to be disconnected to avoid future charges.  It's free but £68 to reconnect. 

See https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-account/moving-home/empty-property-guide/

Brunokid

Rodders53 said:

Property is obviously overpriced or uniquely unattractive if taking years to sell.  Drop the price?

or

Get a water meter fitted.  The standing charges with zero consumption should be less than the Rateable Valuation charges.

or

Ask to be disconnected to avoid future charges.  It's free but £68 to reconnect. 

See https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-account/moving-home/empty-property-guide/

Who said it's been standing for ages?

It's been empty for a month and I have just accepted an offer

No point in getting a meter fitted as by the time they get round it would of hopefully gone

cannugec5

Brunokid said:

I have an empty property which is on the market to be sold.
I contacted my water supplier (Severn Trent) to let them know that I had isolated the supply at the stop !!!!!! and do not require their services. In other words, I don't want to pay for something that I am not using. As we pay rates and are not on a meter, 'no can do' they say. 
They didn't charge me last year for exactly the same circumstances but it sounds like they are snatching at every penny now.
I have lodged a complaint but am still waiting to hear from them.
Has anyone else had any success?

Thanks

Bruno

This reads as if the property was not charged for any water last year because it was disconnected and empty. 

I too assumed the property had been on the market for more than a year.