Who does what ยท In brief
Should an older home have a water meter?
A water meter in an older house is often missing; homes built after 1990 usually have one. WaterSafe says you usually have a right to request one free, unless fitting it is impractical or too expensive.
Most useful for: Householders on unmetered bills in pre-1990 homes
Compiled from the sources at the end. Updated .
WaterSafe, an industry source, says about 60% of households are metered. Homes built after 1990 usually have a meter, and older ones often do not, so many Cambridge terraces and village houses may still be unmetered. Your water company can tell you what applies at your address and how it decides what counts as impractical.
Who owns it and who repairs it?
WaterSafe says the company owns the meter and repairs it, while the owner is responsible for the pipes connected to it. That sits inside the wider split between the company's pipe and yours, set out on the stop tap and supply pipe page.
Older houses can raise practical questions before a meter goes in. Where does the supply come in? Is it shared with a neighbour? If you think it might be, tell the company early and ask how that affects fitting a meter. Your bill will say which company to ask.
Can you change your mind?
Generally only if you asked for the meter in the first place, and then within about 2 years, according to WaterSafe. Check the current terms with your company before signing up, since the switch back is not open-ended.
A meter also makes water-using kit more visible on a bill. DWI says a reverse osmosis unit can raise metered bills by up to a third, and softeners use water for regeneration too, so factor that in if you are also weighing up a softener. No figure is given here for whether a meter will save you money, because that depends on your household and your charges. Ask the company for a comparison based on your own use. If you rent, raise it with your landlord first, since the pipes connected to the meter are the owner's responsibility.
Sources, read 4 November 2026: WaterSafe: does every house have a water meter?; WaterSafe: who is responsible for a leaking water meter?; WaterSafe: can you have a water meter removed?; Drinking Water Inspectorate: filters and softeners.