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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think they’re having a laugh charging this

115 replies

FlyingSoap · 22/07/2024 21:03

We have recently bought a 3 bed semi with no water meter. Fixed yearly price of £582.47.
They have (somehow) worked out that although we missed the first 3 months of the year, we will be paying £62 a month for water. I think this is stupidly high for a 3 bedroom house, 2 adults and a baby. They aren’t budging on the price & saying we’ll have to just request they instal a water meter.

AIBU thinking it’s high?

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 22/07/2024 21:18

Just think of all that infrastructure that needs replacing! We need better water quality and better sewerage systems. Of course it’s reasonable and probably should be more!

LittleGreenDragons · 22/07/2024 21:17

It will be based on the old style rateable value which was fixed by the government/water supplier. If you disagree then your only option is to get a water meter fitted. Or move.

Roryno · 22/07/2024 21:16

Everyone should have a water meter. It’s impossible to guess how much a family would use, everyone is different!

Hotpolarbear · 22/07/2024 21:16

I would love ours to be that low. Ours is £82 a month with no meter for a 3 bed house. Lowest council tax band too

VWT5 · 22/07/2024 21:15

It will also be for drainage too (unless you have a septic tank).

MatildaTheCat · 22/07/2024 21:15

You do know you aren’t just paying for the water you use?

Ours was high which I just accepted for ages (96£ I think) and when I queried it it turned out we did have a water meter but it hadn’t been activated. We then got 18 months free of charge.

Just get the meter.

Expectinglittlebean2024 · 22/07/2024 21:13

That sounds about right as will be based off rateable value. If you go onto discoverwater you can see the average water/sewage for all different water companies. I would recommend you get a meter fitted as they have suggested if you want more control over how much you use/spend. Also water bills will be increasing as the water/sewage networks are in a dire condition

Muchtoomuchtodo · 22/07/2024 21:13

That baby will grow and possibly have more siblings. Your water use will definitely go up. I’d stick with your current payments

We pay £77 a month which I think is reasonable for a family of 4.

That covers at least 5 showers a day (often more depending on gym visits and sports), dishwasher on once a day, an average of 1.5 loads of laundry per day, watering the garden and a teen who washes his car weekly.

yodog · 22/07/2024 21:11

Were 2a 2c on a metre and pay 55 a month

WillLiveLife · 22/07/2024 21:10

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at user request.

CrazyChefDoDoDoDoDoDo · 22/07/2024 21:09

Our 3 bed seni was £47.50 on a meter with 1 more child.

Dotto · 22/07/2024 21:08

We pay about that with a water meter, 2 adults, 1 teenager, Southwest Water which is one of the most expensive, soakaway (instead of mains drainage) for rainwater, so it would be even more without.

Meter is generally always cheaper than the alternative. I'd want one in your situation.

Useruserdoubleuser · 22/07/2024 21:07

I would agree to the meter

Notquitethere60 · 22/07/2024 21:07

Just get a meter installed

Motomum23 · 22/07/2024 21:06

Sounds about right to me