over paying bill rateable value 2bed 1 occupant band A council tax

paul1957_2

Friend has just found out she has been paying for 2 adults and 1 child for the past 7yrs due to the landlord- water company ie Severn Trent not telling her or knowing she had to ,she is on benefit's about to get a state pension and struggling to pay bills ,have rang severn trent and all they say is if water meter, house a terrace 2 bed single occupant. A is she able to get credit or refund ,B does she have to have a meter as land lord says no smart meter.     

p00hsticks

Your post is a bit confusing. 

If there is no water meter then the billing is based on the old (pre-council tax) rateable value of the property, unless there is a valid reason why a water meter cannot be installed in which case I think the water company can bill on estimated usage dependent on the occupancy. 

If there is a water meter then the bill will be based on actual usage. 

QrizB

P00hsticks is correct.

One more thing:

paul1957_2 said:

... does she have to have a meter as land lord says no smart meter.     

Generally, the landlord has no say over whether Severn Trent install a water meter or not. Ditto for smart meters for electricity and gas.

(If the meter needs to be fitted inside the property and this entails changes to cupboards etc. the LL might be able to object, but that's their only input to this.)

Farway

If ST do fit a water meter, and she is on benefits or low income, the amount to pay may be capped. 

The actual cap may vary according to which company