Shocked at rateable value

A question about : Shocked at rateable value

Hi all,

I've just moved into a two bed, 50sqm, council flat in Leeds, council tax band A. I'm shocked that the rateable value of the property gives a water bill of Ј550 a year. I'm having a water meter fitted asap (I've had one for years in my old property).

I just wondered if that sounded about right for the water bill? If it is then I hate to think how much someone in band D is paying.

Best answers:

• Im not sure that you can have a meter in a flat to be honest, but fairly sure you can apply to the Water authority
  for an 'assessed rate'
• McNeff, I can have a meter. I had one in my last flat, which is the same as this (ground floor, self contained, one flat above).
  Cardew, thanks for that. I'd guess the flat was built in the 80s so would have been new and shiny in 1990 when it was assessed. Although I wouldn't have thought any property in Chapeltown would have commanded a high rent in 1990!
  Is there somewhere I can find out the rateable value? I've tried googling, but I just get it for business rates, or links to council tax banding.
• Firstly it would have been assessed on the date when it was built - not 1990. 1990 was when RV ceased for domestic properties and was replaced by the Poll Tax and subsequently the current Council Tax
  Presumably it would have been 'all mod con's' on that date.
  The RV will be on the water bill - it is extremely unlikely that any other agency(e.g. Council) other than Yorkshire water will have retained the RV.
  Yorkshire Water charges are here:
  https://www.yorkshirewater.com/your-a...r-charges.aspx
  The combined charge for water and sewerage is Ј2.92 per Ј1 RV. On top of this there are standing charges of Ј44pa for water and Ј49(or Ј2)* for sewerage.
  So if your charges are Ј550 pa, your RV should be approx. Ј156 or Ј172.
  * The higher standing charge of Ј49 is for surface drainage, the Ј2 charge is if you can claim relief from the Surface drainage charge.
  P.S. If you are charged for surface drainage - either metered or non-metered it would be worth investigating if you can claim relief - search for 'SWD' on this section of MSE. You might even be able to claim back for your previous flat.
• Thanks, I had a look at the charges pdf but didn't understand it.
  I'll have a look when I get the bill through.
  At least it's only been for a month or so, hopefully once the meter goes in it'll be back to a sensible amount!
• I had a studio flat and water was Ј40/month, so I spoke to a neighbour and she said she'd been assessed and was paying Ј26/mth. So I went down that route - I phoned up, expecting to be assessed - and, instead, had a random man turn up at the door one day, with a meter in his hand.
  He opened the cupboard under the sink and fitted it inline. That was it. 10 minutes and I had a meter. Water worked out at about Ј15/month after that.
  The meter was a bit of a nuisance/in the way under the sink there, but I was renting, so didn't really care too much about that as I wouldn't have to live with it forever.
• Thank you to Cardew for a very informative read.