Huge Water Bills Due to Underground Leak – Advice on Severn Trent Leakage Allowance Claim

isotonic_uk

Hi all,

Hoping for some guidance from anyone who’s been through a leakage allowance claim with Severn Trent.

3‑bed semi, 2 adults + 1 child. Meter fitted in 2022. Since December last year our bills have risen to completely unrealistic levels for our property size and usage:

• Dec 2024: £772
• Jun 2025: £1,066
• Dec 2025: £1,445

No change in usage. ST originally told me bills were “just generally higher” and suggested water‑saving tips, which I followed. I did everything suggested, including the Get Water Fit scheme and installing the free devices they sent. Still kept rising.

By June, when the bill went over £1k, I pushed again and said something more serious must be going on. After few more months of back‑and‑forth, Severn Trent finally agreed to investigate. In November they confirmed there was a leak, but on my side of the boundary, so I had to get my insurer involved. A contractor appointed through my insurance located and repaired the leak. Leak now fixed and ST have closed the case.

I now need to submit a one‑time leakage allowance claim, so I want to get it right. 

Has anyone been through this process and can share what to include or what Severn Trent look for? Any tips on what to include so the claim isn’t rejected?

Thanks for any help. It really is appreciated.

subjecttocontract

Our household used 40 cu metres every 6 months. Sometimes it's 39, sometimes it's 41 but if it went to even 45 I would suspect a leak. The secret is to monitor your volume usage not the size of your bill.

Woodstok2000

isotonic_uk said:

Hi all,

Hoping for some guidance from anyone who’s been through a leakage allowance claim with Severn Trent.

3‑bed semi, 2 adults + 1 child. Meter fitted in 2022. Since December last year our bills have risen to completely unrealistic levels for our property size and usage:

• Dec 2024: £772
• Jun 2025: £1,066
• Dec 2025: £1,445

No change in usage. ST originally told me bills were “just generally higher” and suggested water‑saving tips, which I followed. I did everything suggested, including the Get Water Fit scheme and installing the free devices they sent. Still kept rising.

By June, when the bill went over £1k, I pushed again and said something more serious must be going on. After few more months of back‑and‑forth, Severn Trent finally agreed to investigate. In November they confirmed there was a leak, but on my side of the boundary, so I had to get my insurer involved. A contractor appointed through my insurance located and repaired the leak. Leak now fixed and ST have closed the case.

I now need to submit a one‑time leakage allowance claim, so I want to get it right. 

Has anyone been through this process and can share what to include or what Severn Trent look for? Any tips on what to include so the claim isn’t rejected?

Thanks for any help. It really is appreciated.

Just fill in the form online - no need to go beyond that. They'll credit back 12 months or 2 bills of excess usage costs, whichever is longer.

Ms_Chocaholic

Check your home insurance too for cover if ST won't help.

isotonic_uk

Ms_Chocaholic said:

Check your home insurance too for cover if ST won't help.

Thanks we used the home insurance company to get the leak fixed.