Water Rates

[dombanks]

i cant seem to get a straight answer about water rates.

simply. ive moved out of my house and its now empty while a tennant is found (has been for a month or so), ive put it into the hands of an agency on a fully managed service. Ive informed the united utilies as i had the bill transfered onto my new property.

so the water is still on. who payes for bill for it? its not metered and really apart from the odd toilet flush when i go round to check up on the house its not being used.

ineed to get a definative answer for this as the finance for this house is split with me and my ex. any changes to how much she has to pay is usually met with agro so when i was there i payed which is fine. a tennant would be resposible for it when they are in. but im not going to pay the whole lot now im not there i have a new place to pay for

[iain m]

You do, if you are NOT on a meter you pay for water consumption, plus waste drainage, plus highway drainage based on the rateable value of your house even if it is empty, So 2 people living in a 5 bedroom house will greatly reduce the water bill by fitting a meter. I have avoided meters to date as I have an in ground 8000 gallon swimming pool. Meters for all are on the way which will be read from a vehicle driving by. If your house is empty with no furniture you can apply for 6 months free council tax, but not water rates. :cry:

[pistonbroke]

In short , whenever you use the loo , you pay them for taking the p***

[peterg]

Yep, as above you're liable for the water rates etc once the property is empty.

It's worth getting a meter installed though (unless you have a swimming pool that is...) my water bill is only £15 a month, without the meter it would easily be 3 or 4 times that

[Norman Verona]

If I remember correctly you can suspend council tax for 6 months on an empty property, but no longer.

Unless you remove the roof!

[SootySport]

As above whilst the house is empty, you own it so you are liable for all the household bills. When a tenant moves in they will be liable for the household bills as long as the tency agreement says otherwise.

[dombanks]

you see i thought that too with the water (i know about the council tax already) but when i spoke to united utilites they didnt say anything about who was paying in the old house. the only info on their site is

"

If a property is both empty and unfurnished and no consumption is registered for metered customers, no water charges are payable"

i guess i'd best get back onto them otherwise some one at some time will get a big bill. i guess it will just be backdated to the date they think i moved out.

ie been trying to get her indoors to go on a water meter as its only the two of us and at the mo the bill is 50ish quid a month in our rented house. I tried the online calculator and said we would do 14 showers a week and 2 clothes washes and it came in at a nuts price so we were put off.

thanks for the help

[iain m]

If you are metered you do not pay for water if the meter has not registered any consumption between readings, but you will be charged for waste and highway which are fixed charges, They are worried you may be a non flusher :A***:

[pistonbroke]

Just got my metered bill for 6 months worth of washing and flushing

£ 158.31 :A***:

[jim_l]

Tell them it is unoccupied and unfurnished - had my water bill suspended whilst refurbing, found them particularly helpful - all call centres should move to the north east!

Most single people or working couples will be better off with a meter, even with power showers.

and....if I understand correctly, you can have a meter fitted and if you don't like the bills you can go back to being charged on rateable value.

[dombanks]

Pants must've hi the wrong button earlier. I phoned them earlier to check and they said its ok as the house is empty& unfurnished. The tennants would get a bill from the day they moved in and the gap no one is billed for as nothing is being used

Im fairly sure a meter would be better but her indoors is well against it and I guess we would have to convince the landlord too

[Norman Verona]

My water rates depend on how much vin rouge I've consumed.

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

Just got my metered bill for 6 months worth of washing and flushing

£ 158.31 :A***:

I opted to go on to metered supply as there's only Mrs Clapham and me. £123.57 last 1/2 year bill... Far less than if we were not metered though.

[iain m]

Most of West Sussex have been told " you are all having the new type meters" there is no option.

[dombanks]

how do you guys get on with watering the garden/wahsing the car etc on a meter?