My father had a water meter installed last November on trial for 12 months. He lived on his own and died at the end of January. My sister is now in the process of buying the house and wants the meter removed as she is a family of five and it could prove to be a more expensive way of paying for water. However the Water Authority refused to take it out as she was not living there at the time even though the year’s trial has not ended.
I am not familiar with the terms and conditions relating to any such trial or indeed that the Water Authorities offered such a trial period.
Surely in the event of your father having passed away during the trial period it would be in order for the Executors on behalf of the Estate of your late father to cancel the arrangement if it was a genuine “trial” for a period of 12 months and this period has yet to determine.
The problem would be avoided if the Executors gave the Water Authority notice prior to your sister purchasing the property from the Estate. Once the property is sold as a “metered” property it is too late to ask for the meter to be removed at no cost.
* Emyr Pierce is Managing Director of Emyr Pierce Solicitors in Rhiwbina, Cardiff, Western Mail Conveyancer of the Year, specialising in Domestic and Commercial Property. Contact www.emyrpierce.co.uk or email law@emyrpierce.co.uk