Poll: Would a water meter put you off buying a house?

cake21

I've been thinking about having a water meter installed for a while, especially as if it turns out to be more expensive within a year I can go back to a flat rate

But..as the future tenants/owners would have to use the meter, I was wondering if this would put people off? :eek:

Thanks for reading (and hopefully voting!) :T

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.

melbury

Why don't the water companies just introduce water meters for everybody so we all pay for what we use, this would be so much fairer. After all people pay for the amount of gas and electricity they use as a family, so why should water be any different? It would really encourage people to be more water aware and less wasteful (unlike my neighbours who are not metered and just don't seem to care if the hosepipe is left running all night :mad: .)

TenerC_2

yes companies should install meters for everybody but ONLY if they scrap there social tarrifs, why should i as a single person have a meter which will charge me for every drop, yet a family could have there bill capped so they could have taps running 24-7 and still pay less then me, you have a family you use the water pay for it, your gas/electric isn`t capped so why should water.

mute_posting

I think if a water meter is the "deal-breaker" either prospective buyers have found 2 identical "perfect" houses (say on an estate) and one has a meter and the other doesn't, in which case, the meter may (just) come into it...

OR

They are missing the bigger picture, as there are often ways to save bigger sums of money than the metered water usage "may" cost them over unmetered usage.

I suspect the latter is true in 99.9% of cases

just MHO ;-)

MP

Pinklady_3

It would depend on the situation - if I was deciding between two properties that were similar I would probably choose the one without the water meter, however if I loved the house it having a water meter wouldn't stop me from putting in an offer.

It depends how big the property is too, if it is small and only really suitable for someone living on their own or a couple then it probably wouldn't make as much difference to them as it would to a larger family who would use more water.

mute_posting

Pinklady wrote: »

It depends how big the property is too, if it is small and only really suitable for someone living on their own or a couple then it proabably wouldn't make as much difference to them as it would to a larger family who would use more water.

I can see the point people are making, however I don't think it will be all that long before meters are mandatory anyway, and / or the way of assessing those that can't have one fitted is changed, which is one of the reasons I think people are missing the "bigger picture" I mentioned.

Just my 2p

MP

Andy_Hamilton

I moved into a new build so had no option.
My bill is £11.75 per month for me + lodger 4 nights per week.
Next door is £25 per month for couple
Other next door is £60 per month for couple with 3 under 5's

I used to go away in the caravan often, when you phisically have to drag your water supply you learn not to waste. Turning on a tap is too easy. I'm just wise with water and people would never know I'm being frugal.

t_r

Who honestly finds two identically perfect houses. I have always struggled to find one. With four kids it would affect me more than most ( I have only just found out about the social tariff and I guess there plenty more the same). If you find the right house you have found the right house.

tomstickland

According to my meter, my average daily use is 100L (0.1 m3). Works out at £120 per year, ie: £10 per month.
I still think that's too much usage really - I think the washing machine must make up a lot of it.

Woby_Tide

can the 3 people who would base a £100k+ life decision on the presence of a water meter please put their hands up