Premises evolve, but account and market records do not always tell the complete story without review. Significant changes to a site can justify checking whether its water arrangements still reflect current circumstances.
Sites Rarely Remain Unchanged
Over time, an organisation may:
Acquire or dispose of buildings
Expand into adjoining premises
Vacate part of a site
Divide a property between occupiers
Change the use of a building
Demolish or construct units
Install or remove equipment
Alter drainage arrangements
Replace or relocate meters
Change landlord, tenant or managing agent arrangements
Each change may affect water use, responsibility or the information needed to understand the accounts.
Which Records Might Be Affected?
Depending upon the circumstances, a change may require attention to:
Customer and occupier details
Billing addresses
Supply points
Meter serial numbers and locations
Meter reading arrangements
Vacancy or occupancy information
Surface water drainage details
Trade effluent arrangements
Service charge allocations
Responsibility for private pipework
The accounts associated with retained or disposed property
Not every physical change alters the water charges. However, the organisation should be able to explain why its current accounts and meters remain appropriate.
Extensions and Changes of Use
An extension may increase occupancy, facilities, roof area or water consuming activity.
A change of use can also alter the way water is consumed. For example, office space converted into catering, leisure, healthcare or production use may create a different demand pattern.
The billing comparison should therefore consider both the physical change and the operational effect.
Divided or Shared Premises
When a building is divided, a supply that previously served one organisation may begin serving several occupiers.
Questions may then arise about:
Who holds the main water account
Whether submetering exists
Which areas each meter serves
How communal consumption is handled
How costs are allocated
Whether vacant space remains connected
Whether responsibility is set out in leases or occupancy agreements
The party receiving the retail bill and the parties ultimately contributing to the cost may not be the same.
Legal interpretation of leases and property agreements should be undertaken by an appropriately qualified adviser.
Acquisitions and Disposals
When property changes hands, opening and closing readings, account dates and meter identification can be important.
An organisation should avoid assuming that every inherited account belongs to the acquired premises or that every old account stopped automatically when a property was disposed of.
Relevant completion records, meter information, bills and correspondence should be retained.
Meter Exchanges and Infrastructure Changes
A meter exchange can affect serial numbers, reading histories and the continuity of consumption information.
Useful details include:
The old and new meter serial numbers
Removal and installation readings
Exchange dates
Meter locations
Meter sizes or descriptions
Any periods of estimated billing
Which buildings or processes the meter serves
Apparent jumps or falls in consumption should be considered alongside these events.
A site change does not prove that the billing is wrong. It creates a sensible point at which to check that physical, operational and account information still agrees.
How WTR Utilities Can Help
WTR Utilities can bring together billing, meter, consumption and available site information to help establish whether significant premises changes appear to have been reflected.
Where records do not agree, we can identify the questions and supporting evidence that may be needed.
Important information: This article provides general information. Property ownership, occupation, drainage and contractual responsibilities vary and may require specialist legal, property, engineering or environmental advice.