AIBU?
CF landlord using my water supply to build a new MASSIVE house
PlateuxDesFruitsDeMer · 07/09/2022 13:36
My landlord has reclaimed a portion of the property I've rented for over a decade and is now building a humungous 5 bed house there. He's tapped into my water supply for the builders to use for cement etc and hasn't had the courtesy to mention it to me, let alone ask if I mind!
Before I go in and tell him I know, that I am a bit miffed and would like some kind of recompense, does anyone know how much water a building a new house needs...its all thermoblock, double skin, old fashioned style building - they are dinosaurs!
Is there a per square metre figure for cement and render?
The water is on a meter so it's costing me money too which I can ill afford let alone the cheeky fuckery of it all!
Am I being unreasonable?
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CatherinedeBourgh · 07/09/2022 13:39
Do you have your bills for last year, to check the difference with this year?
If so, just get him to pay the excess.
A lot of the water used in building is for pre-wetting surfaces and for cleaning, so it's not possible to give you an accurate amount for how much would be used.
MatildaTheCat · 07/09/2022 13:39
If you pay on a meter then he’s stealing from you surely? Contact the supplier for advice.
Obviously he should take over the entire bill if it can’t be split officially. How’s he thinking it would work once the build is complete? ‘Friendly neighbour pays for all water consumption’. 
Kaibashira · 07/09/2022 13:40
If its on a metre can you calculate the difference between your normal usage and the increased usage?
Raise it in writing; there's no way you should have to pay for this.
Let the builders know as well.
You should also negotiate a rent reduction for what I assume is the loss of garden space?
bigbluebus · 07/09/2022 13:41
As above - check your previous bills and charge him the extra usage. If you've been there 10 years the you should have a pretty 'water tight' figure for your normal usage.
OldTinHat · 07/09/2022 13:45
Where is the supply being tapped into?
My water meter is inside my house so only meters the water that flows through it. If he has tapped in front of your meter then I believe it won't affect you? I could be wrong.
AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 07/09/2022 13:45
abovedecknotbelow · 07/09/2022 13:43
Are you on a meter?
Not the OP but the clue's in the water is on a meter bit of the post 😂
I'd be really annoyed, I'd imagine you're talking about a lot of water. Are you even allowed to tamper wit the supply like that?
Irridescantshimmmer · 07/09/2022 13:49
Like others have said, get copies of all your water bills and this will be used as evidence against the LL. Then speak to your water company to see if they can resolve the issue.
But if they can't I strongly advise you to contact the Ombudsman for water, or speak to the citizens advice bureau who will point you in the right direction.
fyn · 07/09/2022 13:50
Just ask him to install a basic submeter, they aren’t difficult to install or expensive.
PlateuxDesFruitsDeMer · 07/09/2022 13:55
Thanks for your replies.
It's a rural property and I've given up a set of stables that I used for storage. This has been replaced with a new garage nearer to the house which is actually much better for us.
I can review bills and read the meter but the build has only recently started (approx. 6 weeks ago) so I was hoping to be able to pre-empt the usage and ask for a rent reduction to reflect it in "real time" as it were. This will obviously benefit me over the winter with everything else going up. My water is on a DD so any increase wont affect that directly until the water company review it annually which won't be til next June. So I'll probably end up with a huge hike on the DD from then... but as the house will be built I won't have much in the way of leverage.
I obviously don't want to rock the boat as the rental market is so scary and I don't want a Section 21 landing on the mat. Equally if its reasonable of me to say "you're using £25 worth of water per 10m2 and I'd like you knock it off the rent for the next few months" then I'd be happy to suggest that nicely.
OfficiallyBroken · 07/09/2022 13:56
Speak to your water company, they are best placed to help and direct you to other avenues for support if necessary.
Personally, I'm amazed he's managed to siphon off your water after the meter point. That normally means accessing the pipework indoors.
If he's been stupid enough to siphon off the water prior to the meter he's literally stealing from the water company - they'll be very interested in this.
It's also worth inquiring how the water supply for the new property will be arranged - it all sounds very underhand.
PlateuxDesFruitsDeMer · 07/09/2022 14:01
It's an old farm so the meter is approx 10 meters away from the house. The old stables had a tap which was capped off when they were demolished.
I asked the LL during the demo phase what was happening with the supply as it goes through my meter and he said its been blocked off and we'll have to dig a trench and put a new mains supply in for the new house as its just a tap supply so not big enough - I'm paraphrasing as I can't remember all the pipe sizes he said!
Its this supposedly capped pipe which now has a new tap on the end and is poking out of the ground and tucked into a trough next to the cement mixer...
Wheredoestheblackfluffcomefrom · 07/09/2022 14:44
Common building trick. I would go straight your water board and advise them. Then deny it was you
CatherinedeBourgh · 07/09/2022 14:44
Tell him to put in something that measures the amount of water that goes through that tap, it's easy enough to do.
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