Nanette Herbert claims the 'loophole' means she is paying too much.
Kingston Council has agreed to investigate after it was revealed social housing tenants may be owed thousands of pounds in overpaid water bills. Nannette Herbert, 47, of Hobill Walk, Surbiton, said she paid Kingston Council £337 for her yearly water bill after its housing department turned down her request to have a water meter installed to cut costs at her home in Surbiton. She then found out the water company also offered discounts for single-occupiers. Ms Herbert claimed her bill was £135 more than Thames Water charged other people living on their own.
Thames Water said Ms Herbert’s bill was based on the rateable value of her home, not a usage rate and said she had not been overcharged. It also said, however, that customers who requested a meter but could not have one could be charged less if they switch from being charged on the basis of their property value to being listed as a single occupancy. In an email seen by the Surrey Comet, Kingston Council’s head of housing Simon Oelman told Ms Herbert issues with water charging might affect the Guildhall’s relationship with Thames Water.
The council denied it had concerns over its deal with the utilities company. A spokesman for Kingston Council said Ms Herbert would not receive a refund at the moment.
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