Your unmetered charges

We charge every property connected to the public wastewater system. You may also use our services indirectly through drainage of foul, surface and highway water.

There are circumstances when not all water that you take through the meter returns to the sewer. If you can demonstrate that more than ten per cent of the water supplied is not returned to the sewer you can apply for an allowance known as wastewater abatement.

Am I eligible for wastewater abatement?

You may not have to pay for wastewater services if water from your toilets, sinks and plumbed appliances does not return to the sewer. 

We can adjust your charges if you have a septic tank or your own waste management system that you empty yourself. Send a copy of the receipt for emptying together with a covering letter to:

Thames Water
PO Box 286
Swindon
SN38 2RA

Chargeable value
Bills for unmetered properties built before 1989 are based on the chargeable value of the property (also known as the rateable value).

The chargeable value was set by the Valuation Office at the Inland Revenue and represents the potential annual rent for your property. This is not related to your council tax banding.

We apply this value to calculate your water charges. There is one rate for water services and another for wastewater services. The rates you pay depend on where you live. You will also pay a fixed yearly charge.

Your unmetered bill explained

In some circumstances when it is not possible to fit a meter on a property, unmetered bills are based on the Assessed Household Charge.

If your property is unmetered you have no opportunity to influence the size of your bill as it is based on the chargeable value of your property.

Water meters are the generally recognised as the fairest way to pay for your water, as you will only have to pay for the amount of water you use. Industry research shows that 70 per cent of customers would see a fall in their bills, or no change, if they switched to a meter. 

View our considering a water meter? section to see if you could benefit financially by switching to a water meter.

View our ways to pay section to find out more about spreading the cost of you bill.

Bills for the forthcoming year (1 April to 31 March) will be sent out in February/March.

When you move into a property you should receive your first bill within ten working days. Your will be charged from the date you move in until the end of March the following year.

All owners of furnished properties are legally responsible to pay for water services even when the property is unoccupied.

We can only close the account if the property does not contain any furniture, movable kitchen appliances and is not undergoing refurbishment.

Building and refurbishment
If you wish to use an existing unmetered supply for building or renovation works a 0.17 per cent charge of the contract value plus VAT will be applied for works that exceed £100,000.

Further details on water for building purposes

Extended holidays / living or working abroad temporarily
Charges remain payable if your home is temporarily vacant. You may benefit from having a meter installed, as you would only need to pay for the water you use, plus a fixed standing charge.

Would you benefit from having a water meter?

All home contents placed in storage
If you have placed the contents of your home into storage and it is now classed as empty, you will need to fill out a disclaimer form before we can close your account.

Property let during your absence
If your tenant is responsible for the charges an account should be opened in their name.

Submit your tenants' details

Medical care
If the sole occupier goes into hospital, a nursing home, or similar, for three months or more we will waive all the charges for that period.

To make a claim please submit proof of absence. This may be a note from your doctor, social worker or the hospital administration officer.

This should be sent with a covering letter to:

Thames Water
PO Box 286
Swindon
SN38 2RA

View payment options

Should I have a meter?

For customers with sight or hearing problems, mobility concerns or other specific needs:

Discover our extra care services

Discover simple ways to save water

Fixed charges include the cost to treat highway and surface water drainage, produce bills and answer queries.

The annual fixed charge is divided into the number of days in the year. The amount you pay in fixed charges relates to the number of days your current bill covers.

Highway drainage
A charge is applied to treat rainwater from the highway, which enters the public sewer from gullies in the road. It is the responsibility of your local highway authority to maintain the gullies and ensure highways are properly drained.

Surface water drainage
Surface water is rainwater that falls onto your property and runs via guttering and drainpipes into the public sewer or water that enters the sewer from activities such as car washing. Most customers are connected to a surface water sewer or combined sewer.

You can identify if you are connected to the public sewer by checking where the gutters lead. If there is evidence of a sewer close by (for instance there may be a heavy duty manhole cover) then it is likely that surface water from your premises drains directly to the sewer.

If your surface water drains to a watercourse, stream, river or soak away you may be eligible for a rebate.

Your bill states whether surface water drainage charges are included. Further confirmation is shown on the reverse of your bill in the section 'How we work out your bill'. This indicates all charges and reductions that apply.

Claim a rebate for water surface drainage

If your claim is accepted the adjustment is backdated to the start of the last billing period as shown on your latest bill.

 Appeal form to contest an unsuccessful claim (45.1Kb)