Will water meter reduce value of property?

hubris

I'm interested in having a meter installed. There's just my wife and I in this flat, and Thames water have just charged us £200 for this year.

But I've heard from a family member that the meter will then be the method of payment for whoever we eventually sell our property to (several years from now), and this could make it more difficult for us to sell.

What do you think?

Thanks.

looby-loo_2

I was wondering this too as during term time there are only three of us and the bill is £580. I think a meter might be cheaper but I do water the garden in the summer when the butt run dry so I can't make up my mind. I suspect the next owner will just change wihout a second thought but I was wondering about the house value too

GaryS

We moved house 5 years ago, from a 3 bed 1 bathroom semi to a 4 bed 3 bathroom detached which was a newbuild with a water meter.

The bills are STILL lower in the new house than we paid in the old one, and with 3 children at home (have been 4) water usage is not low.

IIRC all new houses are fitted with meters nowadays.

A water meter has saved me money (shame I cannot say the same for the gas & electric meters though !!)

cake21

I've been thinking about this too... you've inspired me to create a poll http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=827875

Personally I think it would put me off :eek:

Cardew

In many areas of the country it will not matter.

This is because water companies can insist on having a meter fitted when there is a change of occupant - owner or tenant.

Some companies rigidly enforce that regulation, others don't seem to bother at the moment. However with increasing pressure from the Government for conservation of water they might make it compulsory - thats why they put that condition in the water deregulation bill.

littlemissjojo

hubris wrote: »

I'm interested in having a meter installed. There's just my wife and I in this flat, and Thames water have just charged us £200 for this year.

But I've heard from a family member that the meter will then be the method of payment for whoever we eventually sell our property to (several years from now), and this could make it more difficult for us to sell.

What do you think?

Thanks.

When there is a change of occupier at a property, Thames Water will attempt to install a water meter as standard. If they are not able to - ie, pipework in some flats makes it impossible - then the charge will stay on the rateable value. If the occupier requests a meter themselves, but a fit is not possible, then the occupier will go onto the average household charge.

So basically, if you want a meter, go ahead and request one! Though a £200 bill is pretty low already; certainly lower than TW's average household charge at present.

mineallmine

I've read on here but that if there are fewer people in the household than bedrooms, then it's worth getting a water meter.

Cardew

mineallmine wrote: »

I've read on here but that if there are fewer people in the household than bedrooms, then it's worth getting a water meter.

I have seen that as well and it is the worse bit of advice I have ever seen.

A 4 bedroomed terrace in an undesirable part of town could have a Rateable value of, say, £150.

A 3 bed detached house in a nice area of the same town could have an RV of £600.

So the 3 bed property could pay up to 4 times as much in water charges as the 4 bed property.

There is no 'one size fits all' solution. Your best bet is to assume that each member of the household uses 60 cubic metres of water per year.

Using that as a basis compare the charges for metered water against the charge using the Rateable Value.

robledouk

is it possible to have a water meter removed after the 12 month period? I read somewhere that if you requested the meter and paid for the meter to be fitted you can have it removed.

Can anyone confirm? I`m not quite sure

I`m debating whether to get one but like a few of you , concerned about the effect it might have on potential buyers should I sell in the future.

Cardew

robledouk wrote: »

is it possible to have a water meter removed after the 12 month period? I read somewhere that if you requested the meter and paid for the meter to be fitted you can have it removed.

Can anyone confirm? I`m not quite sure

I`m debating whether to get one but like a few of you , concerned about the effect it might have on potential buyers should I sell in the future.

If, as the existing occupant, you have a meter fitted( it is fitted free) you can decide to revert to the original charging tariff(i.e. based on the RV) within a 12 month period.

However they do not remove the meter, in remains in place and the next occupant will(or should) have charges based on the meter.

However this is no different for many new occupants as the water companies can insist on them having a meter fitted anyway.

robledouk

Cardew wrote: »

If, as the existing occupant, you have a meter fitted( it is fitted free) you can decide to revert to the original charging tariff(i.e. based on the RV) within a 12 month period.

However they do not remove the meter, in remains in place and the next occupant will(or should) have charges based on the meter.

However this is no different for many new occupants as the water companies can insist on them having a meter fitted anyway.

so after 12 months, you can`t revert back?

Yeah I assumed the water meter was free but I just read an article in the times(2nd last paragraph) saying this....bit confused now!

From The Times

March 31, 2008

Installation of a water meter can cost upwards of £200, a sum that initially is picked up by the water company but charged back to customers through bills.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3648830.ece