Your water bill when you move house

England and Wales: you inherit the company

Ofwat is plain about it: household customers can't change their water supplier or sewerage provider. The company depends on where you live. So there's no comparing and no switching. You tell the company at the old address you're leaving, and the company at the new one that you've arrived.

1. 1

   Tell the old company at least five working days before you leave

   That's the notice the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) gives, so you aren't charged beyond your move-out date. If you're on a meter, read it on the day you go and photograph it with the date.

2. 2

   Find out who supplies the new home

   The seller's or previous tenant's bill names the company. If you can't see one, enter the postcode on Water UK's Find your supplier tool. If the address isn't listed, which happens with new builds, ask a neighbour, the estate agent or the developer.

3. 3

   Check whether there are two companies

   Ofwat notes that some homes get water from one company and sewerage from another, so two separate bills. Ofwat says the bill should tell you which company supplies each, so check the previous occupier's bill before assuming one account covers it.

4. 4

   Read the meter as soon as you move in

   CCW's advice, because it separates your water from the last occupier's. Meters are usually outside in a small chamber under a cover in the pavement or front garden, or inside, often under the kitchen sink.

If the new home has a water meter

• The company can fit a meter when you move in, but not once you've already had an unmetered bill for that property. CCW's wording: "Yes, a water company can install a meter when you move in, but not if you've already received an unmetered bill for that property." When you tell them you're moving in, they'll say whether one is planned.
• New builds are usually metered already, and removing the meter may not be an option.
• If a meter can't be fitted, you may be offered an "assessed charge", a set charge based on the property rather than on what you use.
• Manual meters are read at least once a year. If the company can't get to it, the bill is estimated, and you can send your own reading instead.

Scotland: it's on the council tax bill

Scottish Water says the majority of households are billed by their local authority, together with their council tax, at a charge set by the council tax band. So in most Scottish moves there's no water account to close or open. Registering for council tax at the new address, and closing it at the old one, is the water job too. See council tax when moving house for how to do both.

• A council tax reduction doesn't clear the water charge. Households on 100% Council Tax Reduction still pay for water and waste water. They may get up to 35% off through the Water Charges Reduction Scheme, which the council applies automatically.
• Full-time students are exempt from household water and waste water charges.
• A small number of homes are metered, and metered charges apply to those instead. Ask the seller whether there's a meter.
• Many rural homes aren't connected to the public sewer and have a private septic tank instead. Scottish Water offers a desludging service for them. Worth asking about before you buy.

Northern Ireland

NI Water's published charges for 2026/27 are for non-domestic customers: businesses, farms and other organisations. If the property you're moving to has any business use, or you're sent a water bill you didn't expect, ring NI Water's billing enquiries team on 03458 770030. Domestic rates are a separate job; see moving house in Northern Ireland.

Where MovePlan fits

MovePlan (myhousemoveplan.co.uk) puts the water job in your dated plan alongside gas, electricity and broadband: confirm the final-read date a week before, and photograph the meters on the day you leave. It doesn't contact your water company, and none of its 13 letters is to one, because this is a phone call or a web form. £14.99 once, not a subscription, for a 180-day plan. For the energy side, see gas and electricity when moving house.