My water bill has increased by 27.5% over £120 a year! Is this reasonable?

MattMattMattUK

Alf_Alpha said:

I am with Severn Trent Water on an unmetered contract and I am currently disputing with them as follows-
My bill for 2025-26 is now £1151.46, compared to £834.59 last year. This is £316.87 more than last year which is an increase of 37.97%.
Severn Trent's own ‘Statement of Significant Changes' information gives the 'high' case increase for an unmeasured supply (not in Chester) as 22.3%. My immediate question is then why has my bill been increased by 37.97%?

You do not really have anything to dispute. The charges are listed on their website, full broken down. If you apply your rateable value which will be listed on your bills then you can calculate it for yourself.

https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-account/our-charges/unmetered-charges/

Or you could get a water meter installed and likely cut your bill in half at a minimum.

DelicateEssen

You're not imagining it, it's not your fault (because you've been somehow dodging paying all this time), the bills are going up, and despite all the 'suck it up' type answers here, my own account states:

"Why has my bill increased?

Severn Trent is under-taking one of our biggest ever investments in our infrastructure that serves you, your community and the environment around us. To do this, we need to gradually increase bills over the next five years. Your bills are currently among the lowest in England – a position we want to continue."

So you can interpret that how you like. You could take them at their word and say 'oh thank you so much for my unbelievably low bills up to now', or you could be more 'cynical' and say 'Shareholders. Profits.' Your call.

freesha

turney_2 said:

Our property is an old one (1840s) and has a large garden with loads of foliage that requires constant watering and so prefer to be unmetered for that reason.

Hopefully not with a hosepipe - if you use one, technically you should be metered.

jimjames

turney_2 said:

Our property is an old one (1840s) and has a large garden with loads of foliage that requires constant watering and so prefer to be unmetered for that reason.

Or get water butts so you can save money

Hoenir

jimjames said:

turney_2 said:

Our property is an old one (1840s) and has a large garden with loads of foliage that requires constant watering and so prefer to be unmetered for that reason.

Or get water butts so you can save money

When it rains.