Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has said that many Brits could be largely overpaying on their water bills. The MSE founder has urged people to make a simple and quick check to make sure they are not spending more than they need to.
This comes as one woman has praised Lewis after she saved over 1,000 by making the change according to his advice. On his latest episode of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, he explained that water bills are set to a specific provider depending on where you live, meaning that Brits fail to explore better deals with different providers.
Lewis announced that there is a rule you can follow which could save you hundreds or even thousands on your water bill, reports Manchester Evening News.
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Martin told his ITV1 viewers: “Many people who live in flats can’t get a water meter, it’s called ‘not practicable’ to have a water meter fitted, in which case you can ask for an ‘assessed charge’.
“That’s where they work out how much you would pay if you were on a water meter, even though you can’t have one, and you’re charged that rather than the water rates.” He went on to add that the change can help people living in houses too, if there are more bedrooms than people.
Martin continued: “Do you have more or the same number of people as bedrooms in your home? If the answer is no, a water meter may save you money in England and Wales. Two people, three bedrooms. Why would that be better on a water meter? Because water rates are based on the rateable value of your house, which is a proxy for the value of your house.
“You’ve got this big old house here so they’ll be charging you a lot, but there’s only two people here so they won’t be using that much. Water meters measure your water usage and your sewage, so that will probably be cheaper. This can be hundreds of pounds. Now if you have a voluntary change, you usually have two years that you can switch back to water rates if a water meter isn’t working for you.
“If you’re disabled or you’ve got related medical issues that mean you need to use a lot of water or you’re on benefits, speak to your energy firm. There’s often, but not always, help available to you.”
A water customer wrote in to Martin Lewis to tell him that his advice had saved her £1,132.81, says Yorkshire Live. She said: “I saw you suggest getting in touch with your water company if you were unable to have a water meter, to ask for an assessment. My provider called me back to say, I’m now due a rebate of £1,132.81! As a 76 year old relying on her state pension, this is like winning the lottery.”
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