Thames H2O assessment based on bedrooms, not people

FlossingMill

I live in a 2-bedroom flat and currently there are 2 occupants. Thames Water say that it is not possible to install a meter and therefore issue 'assessed' bills. According to the CCW calculator, based on our estimated usage, I should only be paying £553 a year. However, TW insist on basing assessed usage on the number of bedrooms, resulting in a bill of £660 a year.

How common is it for water companies to arbitrarily assess bills based on number of bedrooms rather than number of occupants or realistic estimates of actual usage? My son will be moving out shortly but, because I have 2 bedrooms, it looks like I will have to continue to pay £660 just for me, which seems grossly unfair. Is there a way around this?

unforeseen

Basing it on bedrooms is the standard way because occupancy can fluctuate

Farway

Are you sure it's based on bedrooms & not the Rateable value which is used for non metered supplies?

On the plus side, once your son moves out be sure to claim the single person relief on your Council tax

FlossingMill

I was told it is based on number of bedrooms by Thames Water when I called them.

Is there a way to have the assessment based on ratable value - is this likely to be cheaper?

QrizB

Are you sure it's based on bedrooms

Yes, that's how assessed charges work.

... & not the Rateable value which is used for non metered supplies?

You've got muddled up.

Rateable value is the default for older properties that were built without meters. Owners can ask for a meter to be fitted and then they're metered. If (like the OP) it's not practicable to fit a meter, you can ask instead for an assessed charge. The assessed charge is the "average" charged for a metered property of the same size (number of bedrooms).

Is there a way to have the assessment based on ratable value - is this likely to be cheaper?

Assessed charges are almost always cheaper than rateable value charges.

Thames Water say that it is not possible to install a meter

Did TW tell you specifically why you can't have a meter? It might be something you could get a plumber to fix.

FlossingMill

Thames Water did not state why it is not possible to install a meter. However, a friend who lives in an identical flat tried to get one installed. A Thames Water operative assessed the flat and said it was not possible to fit a meter without major plumbing work, and they would not recommend it.