to think that this isn’t just a quirk or living at the end house and is actually theft?

[BanKittenHeels]

We live at the end house on our road. It turns out our window cleaner has been using water from our back garden tap to wash the windows not only on our entire side of the road but also the houses on the road that backs onto our road. That’s 43 houses!
When confronted about this he told me “that’s a quirk of living at the end house”.

I mentioned it to a neighbour and she just laughed and said “It’s only a bit of water!”

AIBU to think, as we are on a water meter, this is actually theft?

YANBU.... CF extraordinaire.

@VenusTiger thanks for replying graciously to my mini-rant I had a colleague who used to say this all the time and it annoyed me she didn't seem to realise she was insulting others not just herself!

yes, it is theft. And trespass, which constitutes burglary

Is the window cleaner in a building or part there of? No. So it’s not burglary.
Theft yes

That’s an absolute piss take, you are not being unreasonable at all to be annoyed. I’d do my pieces!

Sorry I said ywbu because I have no water meter. But given your explanation yanbu sorry xx

Definitely theft. I would tell him that if he washes your windows for free from now on you won’t persue it. Our Council was doing work on a lane beside our house and I came home one day to find they had actually come onto our property and climbed over a low fence to attach their hose to our garden tap. I lost my shit, especially as one worker was washing his truck with the hose when I arrived. There was lots of muttering about “it’s only water” until I pointed out it was metered. I got a grovelling apology from the Council when I complained and they offered to reimburse me (couldn’t be arsed to go that far but appreciated the apology).

Find yourself a new window cleaner & get a lockable cover for your tap.

I voted YANBU. Waiting to hear what happens next. I hope your neighbours don't turn on you.

I am amazed at some of comments on here grudging a bucket of water here and there. While the window cleaners are being cheeky in this instance, people sacking bin and window cleaners because they fill a bucket are being right cf.

How's he getting into your garden?

I would be more worries about people using the bin for dog poo! Maybe a brick on top to make it more trouble than its worth to lift the lid. And a snotty notice on top.

1 cubic meter costs £3.19 (includes water and wastewater)
A cubic meter equals 1,000 litres of water, this is equivalent to 28 showers or 13 baths.

www.unitedutilities.com/faq/bills-payments/what-does-a-litre-or-cubic-meter-of-water-cost/

Fit a lock, problem solved. If he says anything just say you are on a water meter and it was costing too much. If he is a decent window cleaner he should have his own supply, ours comes with a van and he doesn't use our outside tap as the van is equipped with water, not sure how that works.... but someone is taking the mickey...

"I am amazed at some of comments on here grudging a bucket of water here and there"

It's not a bucket of water here & there though is it?

That might be enough for a couple of neighbours.

Sounds as if he's using enough "buckets" for quite a few customers.

That’s really bad, I can’t believe how sneaky some people are!

I would have sacked him too, over the gate and the risk of dogs getting out.

You'll still need a tap lock as he'll still need water for your neighbours.

Surely mist outside taps can be shut off from the inside, I know ours can! Do window cleaners always use cold water?

I am reminded by this thread of my mother many many years ago. The chimney sweep came round for his annual visit and said to her 'The price has gone up a bit because of the increased electricity price'. She looked at him and said 'But you're using my electricity!' and he genuinely looked surprised, he'd clearly not thought it through. Not much got by her,

In UK law he has committed a trespass for the purpose of making a profit. You would be entitled to aggravated damages.

A few of the houses here (we are all semi detatched) have taps on the side including mine. I always tell my window cleaner to feel free to use the tap if he needs clean water for his bucket. He sometimes takes it from mine sometimes he takes it from a neighbours. I dont see it as theft just getting clean water to makes sure the windows are clean. YABU.

"16:11TheMustressMhor

Water should be free for everyone anyway. "

It is, rain water. But if you want it safe and clean and delivered to your house in a convenient system called taps, you should pay for it!

Ooh op, I would be absolutely fuming at this. In fact, I am on your behalf, cheeky git!!

Years ago the water provider in my mums town changed to digital meters. Many years later She thought she had a leak so she called them to come out to check...turns out the fabulous new-fangled digital meter had never been attached to her tap, so all those years she'd been getting her water for free, except for the $12.58/month surcharge fee! The company tried to back charge her because they said "surely you knew your bill wasn't that small "..of course her innocent answer was..I didn't know there was a $12.58 /month surcharge so I thought that was my whole bill as it's just me alone living here and I hardly ever use any water, sir!"
It had been about 10 years! So 1000's of dollars...how was she to know...she didn't even know where her meter was...🤣 there ya go...machines aren't always accurate

He’s got a fucking cheek just taking it and should do your windows for free for the convenience. If he doesn’t, lock the gate/tap and stop his access to it

If someone wants to pay someone else to do it for them, I don't see a problem.

Just to clarify, I have no issue with anyone paying others to do jobs they could do for themselves, I just genuinely did not know that anyone drove from house to house cleaning wheelie bins. What's the going rate per bin?

Yeah, tell them they won’t be washing your windows anymore.