Water meters?

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

Soldato
Joined
13 Jan 2004
Posts
12,776
Location
Leicestershire
Hi all,
I'm paid up on my water until April now. In March I'm thinking about going for a meter as i am single and so next to no water other than shower, wash clothes twice a week and flush the toilet.

I've been told not to go to a water meter as it will affect the value of my house in a resale? Is this really peoples opinions of houses in the midlands?

How much do people pay on a water meter and how many people if you don't mind please?
I pay £325 a year currently and have been told I could cut that to less than £10 a month as I use hardly anything.

I've also been told that if I sell my house I will have to have a water meter fitted - is this true?
If so it negates the question really and i'll get it done - but has anyone heard this?
 
Last edited:
If I didn't have a meter my water rates would have been over £300 for the year 2013/14. I had a meter put in and my first year on the meter my total bill was less than £200.

My next bill is due in any time now and I expect the same results for 2014/15.

I don't believe they affect the resale value, all new builds have them and people are still buying those.
 
Thanks Lee - I've modified the post.
As you say new builds have them and I got told that if I sell my house i'll have to have water meter fitted anyway which makes it a no-brainer?
 
When you sell your house the water company won't usually enforce the rule for the new owner to get a meter installed. But if there is a meter already installed then the new owner will have to go on it. Where as you have the choice to go back to water rates after the first year of the meter being installed if you don't save any money. However they won't dig up the meter, they'll just leave it there.
 
What sort of property do you live in and what is the area like? My thoughts are if it's a single person's or young professional couple's house in a similar area (similar properties) then being on a water meter may not have a detrimental effect on the sale price. I'd have thought people of that demographic would benefit from water meters.

However, if it's an area where families live and a family home, then they are the sort of people that may be better off paying water rates and therefore possibly put off by a property with a meter. As a family of five, it would put me off.
 
I wouldn't worry about having a metre when it comes to resale. I used to have one and when we expanded we had it taken out. It was very simple to do.
If your single or a couple its a very good idea to have one.
 
Interesting. Presumably the utility company came and did it?

You'd need to check with the water provider in your area (website usually has the information) but I'm yet to come across one that says they will physically remove the meter after it's been installed. And they've all said a new owner has to have metered water when a meter is already present.
 
Whether they put the new owner back on rates or not, they won't physically remove the meter, they'll just leave it but just disregard the meter readings and bill you on the rate set for your property.
 
Thanks all. The area I live in is a family area. My house is a 2 bed semi.
I also have solar panels installed so it would appeal to those who want something they can be a bit efficient with I guess?

Interesting that the new owners might be able to come off the meter.
 
Obviously someone wouldn't choose a house solely based on whether it's got a water meter or not... but given two identical houses I'd choose the one without a meter.
 
hhmmm think only I can go to a meter and have it put back even when the 12 months are up. If I sell it with a meter the new owners can't change it. But in all fairness unless they have 10 cars and 10 kids to wash it will be cheaper....
 
Nope once a meter is installed and in the ground for 12 months it stays no matter who you are. The only way you can have it removed is if you can prove you are worse off having it than not. Chances are you will save a huge amount based on single occupancy.
 
well a lot of this sounds like Chinese whispers.

Just bought a house. moved in set bills up on a flat rate, called them saying we would like a meter they come to install it and it already has one.

They said if we change our minds we can swap back to fixed rate at any time
 
Not chinese whispers, as it's all on water providers' websites, but it sounds like the usual incompetence of such organisations.
 
Severn Trent rang me back and confirmed I have 12 months to change back before the house is changed to a meter only for future use. I can't and new owners can't change back to rateable billing.

It does say that on the website but with everyone saying they can change back I asked them to ring and confirm.

Once on a meter that's it after 12 months no matter who owns the house.
 
I agree on the incompetence of such organisations, when I had the meter installed, they forgot to change my water account onto metered billing and still had my property down as standard water rates. This went on for 3 months until I contacted them about it.
 
helpimcrap said:
Severn Trent rang me back and confirmed I have 12 months to change back before the house is changed to a meter only for future use. I can't and new owners can't change back to rateable billing.

It does say that on the website but with everyone saying they can change back I asked them to ring and confirm.

Once on a meter that's it after 12 months no matter who owns the house.
Click to expand...

Must be how we got away with it we changed within 6 months. With child wasn't good idea to be on meter. But I think singles and couples there is a huge saving.
 
I'll get it changed in March. I can always change back after 10 months.

I know a mate with a family and they pay £15 a month. 2 x daily showers, 1 x bath etc for kid. I wouldn't imagine that it would double.
 
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