If you’re a Thames Water customer living in a flat without a water meter, there’s a little-known way to cut down your water bill—potentially saving you £1,000 to £2,000 over time. This under-the-radar money-saving opportunity has been around for over a decade but remains relatively unheard of, leaving many residents unknowingly paying more than they should.
The Secret to Lowering Your Water Bill
Thames Water offers an Assessed Household Charges scheme for homes where a water meter cannot physically be installed—a situation common in converted flats where complex plumbing layouts make fitting a meter impossible.
Instead of charging based on a home’s rateable value—an outdated system often tied to old council tax banding—Thames Water will switch these households to an assessed value bill, which calculates charges based on the average water use for similar-sized homes.
This assessed value billing often results in lower monthly payments, aligning costs more closely with typical water usage rather than outdated property valuations. For many flat dwellers, this could mean significant savings.
More information is available here: Thames Water Assessed Household Charges
Who Qualifies?
- Flats & Converted Homes: The scheme mainly benefits flats, particularly those in converted houses where water meters can’t be installed due to complex plumbing.
- Unmeterable Properties: If Thames Water confirms that a meter can’t be installed at your home, you can request to be moved from rateable value billing to assessed value billing.
- Single Occupants: If you’re the sole resident, you can apply for an additional discount through the Single Occupier Tariff, further reducing your water bill.
Real-Life Savings
One savvy Thames Water customer shared their experience online, revealing that after discovering the scheme 13 years ago, they’ve saved an estimated £1,000 to £2,000 on their water bills. Even for multi-occupant flats, the assessed value billing can lead to lower charges compared to the rateable system.
“It’s not widely advertised, and I often wonder if my neighbours even know about it,” they shared in a social media post. “This small switch made a huge difference in my water bills over the years.”
How Does It Work?
- Assessment Process: Thames Water will evaluate if your home is eligible by confirming whether a water meter can be installed. If not, they’ll move you onto an assessed value bill.
- Cost Comparison: The company compares your current rateable bill to the new assessed value charge and automatically applies the cheaper option.
- Single Occupancy Discount: If you live alone, you can apply for the Single Occupier Tariff, which reduces the assessed charge even further.
- No Installation Hassles: Since the scheme applies to homes where meters can’t be installed, there’s no disruption or plumbing work involved.
Why Isn’t This More Widely Known?
One reason this scheme flies under the radar is that Thames Water doesn’t heavily promote it, possibly because it leads to lower bills for customers. Additionally, only a few water companies in the UK offer similar assessed value billing options, making Thames Water a rare example of a provider giving unmeterable households a fairer pricing alternative.
How Much Could You Save?
While individual savings vary based on the size of your flat and number of occupants, many residents report annual savings of £150 to £300. Over several years, this adds up to thousands.
For example:
- Standard Rateable Value Bill: £600/year
- Assessed Value Bill: £400/year
- Single Occupier Tariff: £300/year
Over five years, a single occupant could save £1,500—money that would otherwise go down the drain.
How to Apply
- Check Eligibility: Visit the Thames Water Assessed Household Charges page to review criteria.
- Contact Thames Water: Call customer services and request an assessment for switching to assessed value billing.
- Apply for the Single Occupier Tariff: If you live alone, ask about this extra discount.
- Monitor Your Bills: After the switch, review your statements to ensure the lower rates have been applied.
Final Thoughts
At a time when the cost of living continues to rise, discovering hidden savings on household bills can make a real difference. The Thames Water Assessed Household Charges scheme offers a fairer pricing model for those living in flats or converted properties that can’t accommodate a water meter.
If you think you qualify, take a few minutes today to reach out to Thames Water—you could end up saving hundreds, if not thousands, over the years.
