Water bill being paid by previous owners!

[pointycow]

I’ve realised over the last few days, with people discussing the increase in their water bills, that our bill is being paid by the previous owner- we’ve been in the house nearly 2.5 years.

A water bill came addressed to the previous owner today and I opened it because I wanted to know what the situation is. They have been paying the bill on our property by direct debit ever since they moved out so clearly haven’t noticed the hundred quid or so that’s been going out of their account every month.

I do all the house admin, school admin and I’m a teacher so don’t have a great deal of headspace- genuinely haven’t realised that we haven’t been paying for water for the last couple of years.

Much as I’d love someone else to pay our water bill I realise this can’t continue! I’m planning on contacting the water board but does anyone have any idea what might happen? Will we be stuck with a big bill for the last 2.5 years? Are we at fault? Anyone been in a similar position? Any advice appreciated! Thank you.

You need to contact the water company sooner rather than later and tell them you have moved in. You may get back billed but should be able to repay over the course of this year.

The old owner will get a final bill. Although any credit will sit on their account until they claim it back.

Yes I imagine when they realise/ find out they will claim a refund as they can prove they don’t own the property and you will have to pay your full bill. Better to deal with it now than have an even larger bill

genuinely haven’t realised that we haven’t been paying for water for the last couple of years. In 2.5 YEARS!!! 🙄

Did the previous owner notify the water board that they sold. Are they still alive? Live in in the UK? Maybe they are abroad now?
Didn't YOU need to submit a meter reading when you moved in?
They 'might' allow a payment plan.

Thanks for the advice.

Yes, in 2.5 YEARS. They live locally, they called in for a parcel last summer. They have been paying for our water, and the water on their property for 2.5 years- if I were paying two bills I’m pretty sure I’d notice.

Thanks @Darkclothes - I will pay a heavy price for my lack of administrative efficiency 😳

Yes, in 2.5 YEARS. They live locally, they called in for a parcel last summer. They have been paying for our water, and the water on their property for 2.5 years- if I were paying two bills I’m pretty sure I’d notice

And yet you couldn’t notice that you weren’t paying at all? In 2.5 years?

It's not entirely on you. When they moved out they should have submitted a final reading and ensured they weren't paying for it any more.

I imagine you will have to back pay but hopefully they will agree a direct debit so you can spread it over a long time.

A water bill came addressed to the previous owner today and I opened it because I wanted to know what the situation is.

Was that the first one though? Surely you would have noticed other bills addressed to them if it had been going on that long. I’m just wondering if it’s an administrative error and just that one bill.

Take a meter reading and quickly work out if you would have been better off with metered water…

Do you have a water meter? You'd only submit a reading if you had a meter. Otherwise, you just tell your water supplier you're moving. I only get one paper bill so can see how you could miss that in 2 5 years.

Correct @Josiezu I think most people are more likely to notice a payment of £100 going out every month then, well nothing at all?
I’m not trying to suggest I’m not at fault here but I don’t think the responsibility is entirely mine since they didn’t close their account. Just wanted to get a sense of what to expect next. Again, thanks for the advice, I’ll get onto the water board asap.

Whahay! Awesome. You'd think the others would notice? If you contact the water board they'll probably try and force a water meter on you. That could be good but not always.
But yeah, I hope you can afford to pay the money all back! It's their error really so you'd hope they'd pay the other person and only make you pay some of it? I think if it's too long ago they can't ask for anything, but obviously if it's happening now you'll need to sort it.