Lied to by water provider

[TheBaneOfLife]

I moved into my property 8 years ago as a private rental initally, it was unmetered at this time and I called up the water provider to set up the account.

I specifically requested to stay unmetered and was told by the advisor that this was not possible as the law had changed in October (dont recall the year) meaning that it was a legal requirement for un metered properties to change to a meter on change of occupancy.

Being that they are a professional utility provider, I took this to be the truth and a meter was fitted.

We since bought the property and are in the latter stages of waiting for its sale to complete, being thats its been many years since I've moved, I went to the water providers website and found no evidence that what I was told 8 years ago to be true and I did in fact have the option to remain unmetered and I would not have allowed a meter had I not been informed it was a legal requirement.

I've emailed the water provider asking for clarification of what the notes on my account say (ie did I request a meter), if this law change is fictional or not and if their staff were incentivised or targeted to change properties over to a meter at this time and advised them of the situation

I haven't had a response yet but cant find any similar situations online, and if my notes say I requested a meter its very much going to be a he said, she said situation if the call wasnt recorded.

Has anyone else had a situation like this before and can advise what is the likely outcome?

There are instances where a water meter can be compulsorily installed - this link is from OFWAT in 2016. It may be that your situation fell under this ruling.
https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/11324-2/

EDIT: was your water bill higher than it would have been because of the water meter?

I was going to say the same thing. as @Soontobe60 there are many reason why a provider canlegally insist on customers changing to a metered supply, the most geographically universal being a change of ownership. Honestly I am not sure where you will get with this one even with a recorded call especially if the person who you spoke to said something like "legally we can require you to have a metered supply" Sorry I think that the likely outcome is that you will have to stay metered and will lose any attempt to prove otherwise.

Why were/are you so keen to be unmetered? We have had a meter since moving to our house 25 years ago.

My neighbour resisted it for years but it was forced upon her and our other unmetered neighbours a couple of years ago. She found she was paying quite a bit less, so wished she had moved over earlier.

I don’t know where you are in the country but according to Thames Water (see link below) the Water Industry Act 1991 enables them to meter properties in “water stressed areas”. I live in one of the areas mentioned (London, Swindon, Guildford, Waverley, Oxford and Reading).

https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-meters/installing-meters-in-our-region

The fact you couldn't find it on your provider's website is irrelevant. Water companies are legally entitled to insist on fitting a water meter if there is a change of occupancy. You did not have the option of remaining unmetered.