Moving over to a water meter ...do you really save money ?

[bizzey]

Just had water bill in !

Wondering if I would be better off in a water meter and can I put one in if in rented property?

1 adult at £74 a month is a bit "ouch " !!
It has gone up £20 !

Thanks .

I've saved quite a bit by switching to a meter. I was paying £75 a month and now I'm only paying £31 for a three bedroom house with me and two DC.

If you're a single adult and don't use loads of water you'll almost certainly be better off on a meter.

If it's a rental then you'd need to discuss it with the Landlord.

I think most water companies will fit meters free of charge.

Suggest speaking to the Water Co in your area. Some offer a service to use estimated actual consumption where fitting a meter is not practical.

I saved a fortune by switching to a meter. My bills are a third of what they were.

We were paying £74 a month. When we first switched that dropped to £19 a month. Now it’s £31 but still a huge saving. Theres two of us.

Wow ...those savings are massive !

I moved to a house - same water authority - last year. Original house was £65, new house was estimated at £50 and I overpaid by so much that it is down to £13 this year.

For a single adult household it would be very hard not to save money with a water meter! I had one at a previous property and my bills went to about a third of what I was paying on rateable value.

I saved nearly half. Was paying £59pm, now paying £31. That's me and DD in a 3 bedroom house.

About two years ago was paying £55.00 pm. Changed to water meter and currently paying £14.00 pm. Single and very careful with my water use though.

Flip ...should have done it a long time ago. 😔

Everyone should have a meter and pay for what they use. Don't understand why there is still a choice

We moved from a metered property to an unmetered one.

Family of 5 - we pay more or less exactly the same as we did when we were metered (4 bed house). So if there were any fewer of us, we'd benefit by being metered.

It’s not about being better off, it’s about paying for what you use. We pay for the gas used and electricity, so why should water be any different?

My bill has just gone from 48 to 81.

I was told that water bills are based on the house and not the occupants (I ranted, I live in a normal house but a few mins away ppl have proper swimming pools, is that affecting how my bill is calculated? Ffs).

Anyway I’m getting a meter as at least we will pay for what we use - x2 adults and x2 smallies.

Ours did go down, though I can't remember what it was, and we were paying £25 a month.

New bill arrived this week and it is going up 76% to £44 a month.

2 bed terrace.

Can I ask please..

Those who went over to meters ...was there any disruption to your property or water works ?

I was paying £40 (just me in a 3 bed house). Had a meter put in, and it dropped to £16pm

We save over 50% compared to when we didn't have a meter. BUT you need to think about how you use water and how you plan to use it going forward. For example, if you like to lie in a bath for an hour and use your toes to top up the hot water, you'll get through an awful lot of water compared to a short shower. Ditto if you tend to hand wash pots as you go rather than use of dish washer or wait until you've got a sink full. Similar with the washing machine - if you're a person that tends to over-separate your items, meaning that you always have the machine on, you'll use a lot more water. Most water companies have an online calculator where you can answer questions about your usage and it will give you an estimate. We're with United Utilities and they promise that your bills will never exceed what you would have paid before, for the first two years. If after two years you're not happy, you can revert back.

You cant know is advance but its no risk as you can change back. The larger question is whether you need the landlords permission

4 bedroom house. 4 adults. I paid 500 pounds last year on a meter. Similar houses not on a meter are paying 1900 this coming year.

We all shower daily, washing machine on several times a week, dishwasher daily. None of us have baths, wash the car or water the garden tho.

5 bed house was £96 a month before meter and £39 a month with meter.
2 adults, daily showers and baths, dishwasher, washing machine,occasional car wash. No watering in the garden.

Meter fitted in the pavement outside the house and no disruption.

They fitted my meter while I was at work. They didn’t need to come inside the house at all. No disruption and just a nice, neat inspection cover in the pavement just outside the front gate.

The engineer called around. He couldn't connect to whatever they do outside so installed the meter indoors in a cupboard on some pipes. All done really quickly. My sister's was done outside

You don't have to ask your LL's permission if your lease is for 6 months or more:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/water/paying-your-water-bill/changing-to-a-water-meter/

We have a meter, house of four adults, and pay £50 a month.