Finding out water rates?

R.O.S.S.I · 15 Dec 2014 at 10:35

In process of buying a house and current vendor says he doesnt know what the water rates are as it was his dads house.

Does anyone know of any way I can find this info out? I believe its based on what the houses rateable value is but I've tried doing some google'ing and can't find anywhere online that tells me this info!

Is it something my solicitor can find out for me?

Glaucus · 15 Dec 2014 at 11:19

Just phone up the water company and ask?

You can't switch water companies so extremely easy to fond out who it's with.

gman1981 · 15 Dec 2014 at 12:34

When you move in don't you have to be put on a water meter now anyway? We weren't given an option when we moved last year.
Here are teh charges for our water company: http://www.waterplc.com/pages/home/your-bill-and-account/tariffs-and-charges/

R.O.S.S.I · 15 Dec 2014 at 13:03

I didn't think the water company would tell me the info I needed but just had a quick chat with them on webchat and they did. Splendid!

Flying_Hellfish · 17 Dec 2014 at 14:50

gman1981 said:
When you move in don't you have to be put on a water meter now anyway? We weren't given an option when we moved last year.
Here are teh charges for our water company: http://www.waterplc.com/pages/home/your-bill-and-account/tariffs-and-charges/

Depends where you live!

I pay a flat rate for the year, it's a very old house though

Haggisman · 17 Dec 2014 at 15:39

gman1981 said:
When you move in don't you have to be put on a water meter now anyway? We weren't given an option when we moved last year.
Here are teh charges for our water company: http://www.waterplc.com/pages/home/your-bill-and-account/tariffs-and-charges/

I didn't have to when I bought my place last April.

Saying that, I've just had one installed, as I worked out it would almost half my bill.

Azza · 17 Dec 2014 at 17:22

R.O.S.S.I said:
I didn't think the water company would tell me the info I needed but just had a quick chat with them on webchat and they did. Splendid!

All the websites have unmetered charge guides somewhere.

As Haggisman says assess how much difference there would be getting a meter installed.

arknor · 17 Dec 2014 at 17:44

if you can't get a meter installed there's another option if you think your being overcharged but I can't remember what it is.

googling will serve you well "reassessed bill" or something like that
EDIT

Your water company can refuse to install a water meter at your property if it is not practical or is too expensive for it to fit one.

If you cannot have a water meter installed, your water company should offer you an assessed charge. This is an alternative to your rateable value charge.

You will not be offered an assessed charge unless you apply for a meter.
Setting assessed charges

Assessed charges are generally based on one of the following:

the number of bedrooms in your property
the type of property you live in
the number of people who live in your property
the average metered bill in the water company’s area