Hi All!

We're buying a new house and it seems the current owner has a water meter

Once moving in do we have the chance to move back to "rates"? Or are we stuck with the meter?

Cheers for any advice!

 

when u say new - how new? If the house was built with the water meter, then u are definitely stuck with it. I think, on older houses where the owner requested a water meter fitted they had 6 months to change back. Chances are, u are stuck with it..................

alan

 

No, it an old house (new to us), but she'll have requested it. More than likely over 6 months ago.

So we're stuck with it (for ever)?

 

If its a cheap house up North and you have a large family then the RV charge would probably be better.
Large house in the South with only a couple of people in it are usually better off with a meter unless the water is being wasted.
Some water companies offer the chance to go back to the RV charge if an owner thinks the swap over doesn't benefit them, but this is limited to the original owner.
The meter still remains in place and the next owner is forced on to metered charges.
Several water co.s also have a policy to change to a meter for new owners when the bill details are changed.

The water co.s who are keenest to put meters in are those that have dwindling resources for the growing number of households in thier areas. Metering is done for good reason to stop wastage.

you are probably stuck with it but why is that a problem?

nick

 

I dont want a meter, I used to have one in my last house and that twasn't too bad, up here its RV but about the same as what I was paying under the old meter system

However I do not have to worry about how many showers/baths a day etc I have

Plus I can use my hosepipe and jetwash safe in the knowleadge that ive already paid for the usage

I have a fish pond that has had to be filled up a few times over the last few years, so im much better off on RV

 

Thanks for the info!

It's only the wife and I moving in. So may work out cheaper (it's the Midlands and we use Severn Trent).

But washing the car etc will always make me paranoid

By the time we have a family they will have probably enforced meter usage anyway.

 

I went for a meter and dont regret it as the water rates were nudging 800 quid, the meter costs me mush less, about half I reckon.

 

So what you are saying is that you would like the rest of us to subsidise your profligate water use and fish hobby!

The big expense on water rates is the sewerage. We don't have any as we are northern and so we simply have a big pipe into the garden. Our water charges are minimal.

 

No not saying that at all

We have never had a hosepipe ban ever. being in the north our water supply is plentyful

I dont waste water, but if I was still on a meter I would dread to think of what I would be paying now, dont get me wrong what I pay now isn't cheap, so i do get my usage worth, but no more than the next man

 

We're on a meter and it's cheaper than the RV we used to pay for our old house. We're not exactly careful about water usage either.

 

I applied for a meter knowing one couldn't be fitted so ST had to offer me a 'Assessed Charge' which worked out a lot cheaper than the RV and if I'd had a meter fitted.

I also mentioned Rannoch should be subsidising my extensive use of a jet washer and the topping up of my two 500 sqft ponds. Then there's my constant toilet flushing habit, just to listen to running water, coupled with the dripping taps.