Paying for water use

All tenants must contribute to the cost of the water they use.

Whether you live in a house that has its own water meter or a block of flats that does not, you must contribute to the cost of the water that you use. This is a fair system which means that all tenants contribute to the cost of water use, not just those in properties that have separate water meters.

If your home has a separate water meter

You must pay the bill that your local water company sends you. Just like your gas or electricity bill, your water bill will reflect how much water you have used.

Before you move into your home, you must advise your water company that you will be the new tenant. Your Housing Services officer can tell you the name of your water company.

Your water company will read your water meter and charge you for the water you use from the day you move in.

When you receive your bill, you must pay the account directly to the water company. Ask the water company if you are eligible for a concession.

Before you move out of your home, you must tell the water company. This is to make sure that you are not charged for water used after you have left.

If your home does not have a separate water meter

You must pay a standard weekly service charge to cover the cost of the water you use.

The weekly service charges are as follows:

The service charges have been calculated taking into account how much water public housing tenants have used in the past.

The cost of the service charge has been lowered by including the government concession for water use and sewerage disposal charges. This was done to make sure that individual tenants are not disadvantaged.

The service charge is added to your normal rent and will be shown on your rental account statement. You can pay it in the same way you pay your rent.

More information

If you would like further information on water charges, please contact your local housing office.