The thorney issue of development water charges has been raised recently on About Peverel. So hopefully this will be of use.
Where a landlord is invoiced for water supplies and recharges the amount to residents as is the case with Peverel/Firstport, residents are protected by the Resale of Water Act 2006.
This states that when requested the invoice raised by the water company for the development must be produced. The re-charge must not be for more than the total invoice, except that a maximum administration charge of between 5 pounds and 10 pounds can be levied.
There are several options for a landlord to administer the proportion of charges.
1) Equally between all residents
2) Number of people living in a property
3) Rateable value
4) Total floor space
5) Number of bedrooms
6) 50% derived from option 1 with the other 50 % from option 2-5
You have the right to request information from the landlord as to the total cost of the water supply and how the landlord has apportioned the charges to the residents.
The landlord has a legal obligation to reply to a written request for information within 4 weeks.
Failure to do so gives residents the right to pay 50% of the levied water charge.
If the landlord has failed to comply with the Resale of Water Act residents can apply to the small claims court for a rebate.
