We live in a terrace of 30 houses which has a canal to the front and back. In the past neighbours have tried to get a water meter installed but have been told that the position of the houses precludes it.
Lately, though, Thames Water has told us we must have a meter or else face an annual bill of £601.92 per year. Our bill is £288 for two working adults.
Each property is then visited by an inspector who comes round to tell the owner that it’s not possible to install the meter.
Despite my efforts they will not inspect the whole street at once and they won’t come at a time when I am at home from work so that they can tell me the same thing.
Meanwhile I am having final reminders that they will double my bill. It is becoming a farce, the cost of all these inspections will of course be passed on to the consumer.
LN, London
This sounds like a big-business one-size-fits all policy that makes no allowances for circumstances.
Thames Water says there is a process for mass exemption of properties without individual inspections, but that tends to apply to blocks of flats with a shared hot water supply.
Houses in your terrace could, it says, have adapted pipework which would permit a meter which is why each one must be visited.
You have now had your inspection and, surprise surprise, it showed that your home cannot support a meter. You will therefore be moved on to the assessed household charge, rather than the penalty premium rate levied on those who won’t cooperate.
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