To water meter or not to water meter?
11:06 PM, 21st August 2017, 9 years ago
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My tenant has requested a water meter as at present he has single occupancy of the property. Has anyone else encountered this scenario or have any advice on it please?
Thanks
Tim
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Member Since August 2017 - Comments: 3
7:52 PM, 22nd August 2017, About 9 years ago
Thanks Mark, I am not an experienced landlord, having only one property, so any advice is helpful.
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12209 - Articles: 1409
8:00 PM, 22nd August 2017, About 9 years ago
You’re going to have lots of opinions on this one
Member Since March 2017 - Comments: 38
8:26 PM, 22nd August 2017, About 9 years ago
May I suggest you put in your own check meter and charge the tenant.
Member Since October 2014 - Comments: 423
11:19 PM, 22nd August 2017, About 9 years ago
Something about this doesn’t smell right.
Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 883
9:47 AM, 24th August 2017, About 9 years ago
Hi Mike,
Are you sure of your numbers?
We’re a family of 3 and according to our latest 6-monthly bill we use less than half the water you do (with 3 showers a day and the washing machine running several times a week).
We previously lived in a house without meter and we actually save money now that we have one (we’re also with Thames Water).
Here, if the tenant is alone at the property he may simply have concluded that he would also save money with a water meter.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 205
9:33 PM, 24th August 2017, About 9 years ago
I think you may find that the tenant has the right to install meter without the LL’s permission or even informing the LL.
I also think once installed the meter b staying for good.
Member Since April 2014 - Comments: 136
9:15 AM, 26th August 2017, About 9 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Mike at 22/08/2017 – 12:55
You must have a leak somewhere or your private meter is inaccurate. I have flats where meters are fitted, Recent readings, one for over 20 years, reading 800cu/m2 and one for 12 years reading 600 cu/m2.
Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 788
2:23 PM, 26th August 2017, About 9 years ago
In reply to Romain garcin and Bill Williams, indeed I have checked the meter accuracy, which I have done several times, meter is pretty accurate to within a say 10% and on top of this I have checked for leaks, like taking meter reading at night and checking it first thing in the morning, during which time we both don’t use any water and avoid flushing the toilet or use tap water, whilst the test is in progress, have not found any other problems either . Yes we do have lots of cats, but we only use water to wash 4 litter trays every other day and wash their utensils from which they eat food and water daily twice, usually we leave them soaking in a tub with some bleach, and then wipe and rinse in clean flowing water, but still I cannot think where all that water is going , that is 670liters a day! May be I have seen my wife on many occasions leaving taps running at full even when washing a single tea cup! may be she is the culprit. and we do drink lots of tea, between 10-15 cups a day.
What I am dreading is that I own an HMO, where 6 tenants occupy 3 rooms, 2 per room, every time I visit the washing machine is on, I often see tenants leaving kitchen sink hot water tap on whilst washing utensils and leave the sink briefly to throw away some rubbish, but I am already billed fixed charges for this property at almost £600 a year, so if water is metered for this address, I might be paying a lot more than this.
Member Since May 2016 - Comments: 1579 - Articles: 16
10:12 PM, 27th August 2017, About 9 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Paul Green at 22/08/2017 – 16:19
I’m Definitely with you Paul -a Big resounding ‘ NO ‘
for all the reasons above.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 586
11:22 PM, 15th September 2017, About 9 years ago
Reply to the comment left by sam at 24/08/2017 – 21:33
Yes that`s correct and most unfair . I have a 3 bed place with a bit of land but the tenant changed it without my consent to a meter but by law they are allowed to do this .I cannot reverse that decision They may stay only 6 mths and then leave but i have to live with the decision they made behind my back for maybe 50 years.
Its an example of where the tenant has a disproportionate amount of power over an asset not belonging to them – and its wholly unjust