Shared Metered supply

[Steve071154]

I own a property that is currently advertised for sale. The viewings are slow and with winter approaching I need to make my property secure as it will be empty for some time. As a part of this I need to turn off the stop cock, however, this will result in loss of water to a small commercial outlet next door.

The reason for this is that my property’s meter has a small allowance on the bill for usage next door. This has never been a problem until I found the market to be very slow and winter approaching and I now want to make my property safe. I have spoken to the water company and was told that the commercial owner will have to arrange for their own supply, but who will be liable for this and what enforcement do I have if any?

[atticus]

Are you able to install the ability to turn off the supply solely to your property? Your neighbour won't thank you for turning off their water supply, and woukd have grounds to sue you.

[Steve071154]

I get the inconvenience for my neighbour which is why I am trying to sort it amicably. It was once one large property and then split in two with a small commercial unit being rented by its new owner. No one anticipated the problem and if I was not selling or sold then there would be no problem. I just do not think it’s right that I should leave my empty property to the elements in the event of a bad freeze just to placate a landlord that has not provided water via another meter.

[atticus]

Are you able to install the ability to turn off the supply solely to your property?

[Steve071154]

I own a property that is currently advertised for sale. The viewings are slow and with winter approaching I need to make my property secure as it will be empty for some time. As a part of this I need to turn off the stop cock, however, this will result in loss of water to a small commercial outlet next door.

The reason for this is that my property’s meter has a small allowance on the bill for usage next door. This has never been a problem until I found the market to be very slow and winter approaching and I now want to make my property safe. I have spoken to the water company and was told that the commercial owner will have to arrange for their own supply, but who will be liable for this and what enforcement do I have if any?

Anything is possible at any cost. Do you not think the landlord of the commercial property would be responsible for supplying water to his property? They have their own electricity supply, I assume enabled by the landlord, so do they have a duty to supply running water through their own meter?

[atticus]

I am not aware of any such legal duty.

You are the one who wants to turn off the supply.

[Steve071154]

You surprise me! As a VIP member and your profile, I assumed that you might have an inkling of the law. If I am wrong then pls accept my apology. However, a quick google of the question and it transpires that a landlord does have a duty to provide running water. And it is not encumbent on the owner of the next door to provide such services.

Whoever you are, thank you for your input it did at least encourage me to delve deeper myself

[Pezza54]

What would happen if the small water usage turned into a large usage? Your neighbour's mains pipe had a hidden major leak.
How would you recover the additional cost of wasted water from the landlord?

If I was a prospective buyer for your property, I would be put off when I found out about the arrangement with water bills, because of the above possibility

The sooner your neighbour has a separate metered water supply the better. You should then find the property easier to sell

[atticus]

The OP's over-quick internet search has come up with an answer that relates to residential lettings. He has said that the potentially affected property is commercial in use. He has also suggested that the landlord is not him but someone else.

I await his apology, for his ad hominem approach to discussion, if for nothing else.

Is the OP able to install the ability to turn off the supply solely to his property?