Water Meter: who is liable for drain damage etc?

mr_pickles_2

Hello
My sister is considering changing to a Water Meter, the sums mean that she would save about £24.00 per month instead of paying her Water Rates at £36.00 per month (at present prices)>

Her Housing Association has no objections, but when my sister received the paperwork she noticed that it says that she is liable for damages/work having to be carried out on the mains etc.

She asked the HA if that meant would they be liable for the work but they said they did not know.

Does anyone have an answer for my sister, as a disabled single women who will not be able to work again, this is a big worry if she has to take on this liability.

Thank you in advance

adaze

As a houseowner or landlord it would generally be your pipes from the water meter (or stop !!!! if you don't have a meter). I think what the letter means is that your sister would be liable if any work needs to be done to her side of the main to faciliate the meter installation, i.e. if they dig it up and find it is a really old lead pipe they would probably refuse to fit the meter. If she is a tenant then the HA would effectively be liable if the pipe was in a bad state of repair etc.... So she should be fine...

Cardew

mr_pickles wrote: »

Hello
this is a big worry if she has to take on this liability.

There is no reason why having a meter fitted would change the liability for repair of drains.

i.e. whoever currently has responsibility for the drains will still have tha same responsibility.

IMO, as a tenant, that would almost certainly be the Housing Association and/or Local Council.

mr_pickles_2

Thank you both for your response

My sister now feels able to go ahead with the Water Meter installation.
For interest sake I will update with how the process moves along.