The Assessed Household Charge is available for customers who have asked to be charged by a water meter, but we have been unable to fit one at their property, for example in a block of flats or if the pipework is not suitable.

This new charging system was agreed with our regulator, Ofwat in 2007. Properties are placed in one of three bands, based on the number of bedrooms at your home, or a single occupier tariff if you live on your own.

If we are unable to fit a meter at your property, and if the new charges will be less than what you are currently paying, we will automatically transfer you on to the Assessed Household Charge.

Our charges for 2011/2012 are highlighted in the table below.

Band	No of bedrooms	Water charges	Wastewater charges	Annual total
1	Studio / One bedroom	£135	£102	£237
2	Two bedrooms	£145	£107	£252
3	Three or more bedrooms	£179	£124	£303
Single occupier tariff	n/a	£104	£83	£187

Banding

If you were previously on the Average Household Charge and did not complete our survey to be placed on the Assessed Household Charge in 2007, your property will have been placed in band three.

It is still not too late to tell us and we can amend your bill.

Eligibility

If you have previously requested a water meter and were advised that one cannot be installed at your property, you may be eligible to be placed on our Assessed Household Charge tariff.

Contact us about the Assessed Household Charge

If you would like to change your band/tariff, or find out whether you qualify for the Assessed Household Charge, please contact us:

Email us

Use our online form to send us an enquiry.

Online enquiry form
 

Call us

Please call us on 0845 9200 888 (Textphone: 0845 7200 899).

Our lines are open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 1pm on Saturday and closed on Sunday and bank holidays.

If you are trying to contact us from outside the UK, please call +44 1793 366011.

To help us continually improve the quality of our service we record all calls.

Write to us

Assessed Household Charge
Thames Water
PO Box 286
Swindon
SN38 2RA

We will respond to these letters within five working days.

 
Frequently asked questions

• What is the Assessed Household Charge?

  • This is the way we charge customers that have asked to be charged by a water meter, but we have been unable to fit one at their property, for example in a block of flats or if the pipework is not suitable.

    The Assessed Household Charge is based on the number of bedrooms at your home, or a single occupier tariff if you live on your own.

    If we are unable to fit a meter at your property, and if the new charges are less than what you are currently paying, we will automatically transfer you on to the Assessed Household Charge.

• How did you decide how to set the bands?

  • We introduced a tiered charging system to better reflect the amount of water our customers use.

    Following a customer survey in 2007, we decided to base the Assessed Household Charge on the number of bedrooms at a property. We base the tiered charges on the average number of customers living in a home with this number of bedrooms.

    From 1 April 2009, we introduced an additional single occupier tariff for customers who live on their own.

• How do you know that your information reflects my circumstances?

  • We used the information you provided when you applied for a water meter to decide which Assessed Household Charge banding is correct for you.

    If you do not think you are in the correct band, for example you now live on your own, please contact us in the following ways:

    Email us
    Use our online form to send us an enquiry.

    Online enquiry form
     
     
    Call us
    Please call our Customer Centre on 0845 9200 888 (Textphone: 0845 7200 899).

    Our lines are open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 1pm on Saturday, and are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

    If you are trying to contact us from outside the UK, please call +44 1793 366011.

    To help us continually improve the quality of our service we record all calls.

    Write to us
    Assessed Household Charge
    Thames Water
    PO Box 286
    Swindon
    SN38 2RA

    We will respond to these letters within five working days.

• What efforts are you making to install more water meters, for example, for customers in flats?

  • We appreciate that it is frustrating for customers living in flats who may want to have a water meter fitted.

    That's why we're working with water meter manufacturers to help design water meters that can be used more widely.

    We are also working with property developers to ensure that new properties, especially blocks of flats, are built to allow individual water metering.

• How many customers are on water meters in Thames Water's area?

  • Around 28 per cent of our customers are currently metered.

    We believe water meters are the fairest way to charge for water, as customers only pay for what they use.

• My charges are still based on the Chargeable/Rateable Value of my property. Can I apply to be transferred on to the Assessed Household Charge?

  • Yes you can.

    If you want to be charged using the Assessed Household Charge, please contact us to arrange this change. We will only do this if your new charges will be less than what you are currently paying.

    You can contact us in the following ways:

    Email us
    Use our online form to send us an enquiry.

    Online enquiry form
     
     
    Call us
    Please call our Customer Centre on 0845 9200 888 (Textphone: 0845 7200 899).

    Our lines are open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 1pm on Saturday, and are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

    If you are trying to contact us from outside the UK, please call +44 1793 366011.

    To help us continually improve the quality of our service we record all calls.

    Write to us
    Assessed Household Charge
    Thames Water
    PO Box 286
    Swindon
    SN38 2RA

    We will respond to these letters within five working days.

• I couldn't have a water meter fitted and my charges are still based on the Chargeable/Rateable Value of my property. Can I apply to be transferred on to the Assessed Household Charge?

  • We should have checked to see if you would benefit from the Assessed Household Charge when we informed you that a water meter could not be fitted and set up a new account if this was the case.

    However, if you do not think this has happened, or you think you may benefit now, please contact us in the following ways:

    Email us
    Use our online form to send us an enquiry.

    Online enquiry form
     
    
    Call us
    Please call our Customer Centre on 0845 9200 888 (Textphone: 0845 7200 899).

    Our lines are open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 1pm on Saturday, and are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

    If you are trying to contact us from outside the UK, please call +44 1793 366011.

    To help us continually improve the quality of our service we record all calls.

    Write to us
    Assessed Household Charge
    Thames Water
    PO Box 286
    Swindon
    SN38 2RA

    We will respond to these letters within five working days.

• I didn't return the original questionnaire and you have now based my charges on a three-bedroom house; I live in a one-bedroom flat. Can you send me a revised bill?

  • Yes - as long as you complete a questionnaire confirming the number of bedrooms at your property, or that you live on your own, we will amend your charges. You can contact us in the following ways:

    Email us
    Use our online form to send us an enquiry.

    Online enquiry form
     
    
    Call us
    Please call our Customer Centre on 0845 9200 888 (Textphone: 0845 7200 899).

    Our lines are open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 1pm on Saturday, and are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

    If you are trying to contact us from outside the UK, please call +44 1793 366011.

    To help us continually improve the quality of our service we record all calls.

    Write to us
    Assessed Household Charge
    Thames Water
    PO Box 286
    Swindon
    SN38 2RA

    We will respond to these letters within five working days.

• I have been billed on the Assessed Household Charge for several years. The new banding system means that I would be better off being charged on the Chargeable/Rateable Value of my property. Can I return to Chargeable/Rateable Value?

  • Yes you can.

    If you want to be charged on the original Chargeable/Rateable Value of your property, please contact us to arrange this change.  However, we will only do this if your new charges will be less than what you are currently paying.

    You can contact us in the following ways:

    Email us
    Use our online form to send us an enquiry.

    Online enquiry form
     
    
    Call us
    Please call our Customer Centre on 0845 9200 888 (Textphone: 0845 7200 899).

    Our lines are open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 1pm on Saturday, and are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

    If you are trying to contact us from outside the UK, please call +44 1793 366011.

    To help us continually improve the quality of our service we record all calls.

    Write to us
    Assessed Household Charge
    Thames Water
    PO Box 286
    Swindon
    SN38 2RA

    We will respond to these letters within five working days.

• I live in a block of flats and my neighbour is already on the Assessed Household Charge - how do I apply?

  • You need to first request to have a water meter fitted at your property, even if your neighbours have been told by us that a meter could not be fitted to their supply pipe.

    Every household has to apply individually before they can be considered for this tariff. The Assessed Household Charge will only be offered if a water meter cannot be fitted at your property.

    Request a water meter