How Moving Business Premises Affects Your Water Supply

Key points

Moving business premises doesn't move your water supply with you. Business water accounts are tied to the premises, not your business, so you close your account at the old site and become responsible for the new one from the day you take occupation. In England and Scotland, each premises is identified by its Supply Point IDs (SPIDs). 

• Your contract stays behind. It's linked to your current premises, so it can't follow you to a new address. 

• Tell your retailer early. Give your move-out date, a final meter reading and a forwarding address. 

• You're billed from day one at the new site, usually on the existing retailer's default or "deemed" terms until you agree a contract. 

• Photograph every meter. A dated photo of the reading and serial number protects you from paying for someone else's water. 

• Check the extras. Trade effluent consent, plumbing alterations and legionella controls all need attention. 

• Rules vary by nation. Most businesses in England and Scotland can switch retailers after moving in. Wales and Northern Ireland work differently. 

How business water works when you move premises

In England and Scotland, two companies sit behind your business water supply:

• Your wholesaler is the regional water company that owns the pipes and your meter. It's set by location, so you can't change it. 

• Your retailer sends your bills, reads your meter and handles customer service. Most businesses can choose their retailer. 

When you're moving premises, both can change. Your new site may be served by a different wholesaler, such as United Utilities in Manchester or Thames Water in London, and it will already be registered to a retailer.

Why your water contract can't move with you

Each business premises has its own Supply Point IDs (SPIDs), usually one for water and one for sewerage. They're 13 characters long, with a W (water) or S (sewerage) after the first 10 digits, and you'll find them on your water bill.

SPIDs belong to the building, not your business. Your price is based on the old site's SPIDs, meter size and regional wholesale charges, so it can't be transferred. If the same retailer supplies both sites, it may move your account across, but your charges will be recalculated for the new premises. 

What counts as business premises for water? 

Business premises (also called commercial or non-household premises) include offices, shops, cafés, salons, warehouses, workshops, factories, farms, clubs, charities and public sector buildings. Whether you can choose your retailer depends on how the premises are used and which water company serves them, not just your postcode. 

Before you commit to commercial premises, check for: 

• Landlord billing: if your landlord pays the water bill and recharges you, you can't shop around for a retailer. 

• Shared meters: the occupiers or the landlord must agree how the bill is split. 

• A home-to-premises move: if you've run your business from home, this may be your first business water account. 

• Multiple sites: eligibility is checked separately for each premises.

Before you move out: closing your business water account

1. Check your lease and water contract 

• Who pays for water? If it's in your rent or service charge, the landlord manages the account, so just tell them your move-out date. 

• What does your contract say? Most water contracts explain what happens when you vacate, including the notice and evidence needed. Check for any early termination charges and get the position confirmed in writing. 

• How must you leave the premises? Some leases say whether supplies must stay on, be isolated or be drained down. 
  
  

2. Tell your water retailer early 

Aim for at least four weeks' notice once your date is fixed. Most retailers have an online moving-out form and will ask for: 

• your account number and SPIDs 

• your business name and Companies House number, or sole trader details 

• your move-out date and a forwarding address 

• the landlord's or new occupier's details, if you know them 

• final meter readings, sent on the day you leave 

On a fixed-term deal, you may also need evidence of the move, such as a lease surrender, completion statement or a letter from your landlord or agent. In Wales and Northern Ireland, tell your regional water company instead. 

3. Close any trade effluent consent 

If you discharge trade effluent (liquid waste from your processes rather than domestic sewage), tell the water company when you'll stop so it can adjust your bills. In England, this goes through your retailer. Some wholesalers, such as Severn Trent, ask you to return the consent document. 

4. Agree what happens to the supply after you leave 

Agree with your landlord whether the water stays on, and never isolate a supply that feeds sprinklers, hose reels or other occupiers. If you'll stay responsible for an empty building: 

• Charges continue. Standing charges still apply, and unmetered premises are billed on rateable value even when no water is used. 

• Stagnant water is a health risk. Keep flushing outlets, or plan to recommission the system before anyone uses it again. 

• Long vacancies may justify a temporary disconnection. Ask your retailer about the options and reconnection costs.
   

On moving-out day

• Read and photograph every meter, including sub-meters, so the reading, serial number and date are clear. Do this even if you have a smart meter. 

• Submit your readings the same day and keep copies. 

• Turn off taps and appliances, check for drips and running toilets, and only close the stop valve if your landlord agrees. 

• Leave a handover note with the retailer's name, the SPIDs and where the meter and stop valve are. 

• Keep your Direct Debit running until you've checked your final bill. 

After you move out: your final water bill 

In England, Ofwat's Customer Protection Code of Practice requires your retailer to: 

• give you an estimate of the final credit or debit on your account 

• issue your final bill within six weeks of the contract ending or transferring 

• refund any credit within 60 calendar days of the final bill 

Keep your retailer updated with your new address. Without a final reading, you may be billed on estimates, and some retailers warn that if the new occupier doesn't register, you could remain liable for the balance. If your final bill is wrong, send your dated photos and proof of your move date. If that doesn't resolve it, use the retailer's complaints process. The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) can also help business customers in England and Wales.

Before you sign: water checks on new commercial premises 

A few questions before you sign a lease on commercial premises can prevent delays and unexpected costs: 

1. Who supplies the premises? Ask for a recent bill. In England, Open Water's "Find my retailer" service can help, and any licensed retailer can tell you which retailer the premises is registered to. 

2. Is water included in the rent? If you're recharged, ask how it's calculated, for example by sub-meter, floor area or a fixed fee. 

3. Is the meter the right size? Standing charges usually depend on meter size, so premises fitted out for a heavy-use occupier can leave you paying for capacity you don't need. 

4. Where does the rainwater go? If it drains to a soakaway or watercourse instead of the public sewer, you may be able to have surface water drainage charges removed. 

5. Will you produce trade effluent? Severn Trent's guidance is that discharging anything other than domestic waste to a public sewer is likely to need consent. Car washes, commercial laundries, food and drink production and vehicle workshops are typical examples. 

6. Are you changing the plumbing? New washrooms, kitchens, salon basins or a change of use may mean notifying the water company before work starts. 

7. Has the building been empty? Ask for the landlord's legionella risk assessment and records, and agree who will recommission the water system. 

8. Is the supply big enough? Gyms, salons, cafés and production sites may need more flow or pressure, and upgrading a connection takes time. 
   
   

On moving-in day: setting up water at your new business premises 

Find and read your water meter 

Most business water meters sit in a boundary box under a small cover in the pavement, but some are in basements, plant rooms or cupboards, and larger sites may have several. Photograph the reading, serial number and date, and check the serial number matches the meter on the account. 

This opening reading separates the previous occupier's usage from yours. Without it, your bills may be estimated from their consumption.
 

Register with the retailer that supplies the premises 

Contact the retailer registered to the premises. You'll typically need: 

• your move-in date 

• your business name and Companies House number, or sole trader details 

• your SIC code and billing address 

• your opening meter readings 

• evidence that you've taken over the premises, such as your lease 

In Scotland, register with a Licensed Provider. In Wales and Northern Ireland, contact your regional water company. 

Make the water system safe before anyone uses it 

Legionella bacteria multiply in water between 20°C and 45°C, and stagnant water encourages their growth. As an employer or someone in control of premises, you're legally responsible for assessing and controlling the risk. Before staff or customers use the water: 

• Flush every outlet, including taps, showers, hose reels and drinks machine supplies. Run showers gently, or remove the heads, to limit spray. 

• Check temperatures. HSE guidance uses cold water below 20°C and hot water of at least 50°C (55°C in healthcare premises) as checks, with stored hot water kept at 60°C. 

• Get expert help if the building has stood empty for weeks or months or has storage tanks. Disinfection or sampling may be needed. 

• Keep records, and flush any outlet that isn't used at least weekly. 
  
  

Check for hidden leaks 

Read your meter at close of business with everything switched off, then again the next morning before anyone uses water. If the reading has moved, you may leak. Our business water audit guide explains how to investigate. 

• The wholesaler is responsible for the pipe up to your property boundary or external stop tap. 

• The supply pipe from the boundary into the building is the customer's responsibility. If you rent, your landlord is probably responsible, so check your lease. 

• If the wholesaler finds a leak on your supply pipe, it can require you to repair it, usually within 14 days. 

• Leak allowances are often available for underground supply pipe leaks that are repaired promptly. Apply through your retailer quickly, as some wholesalers require claims within 12 weeks of the repair. 

Finally, find and label the internal stop valve (stopcock) and show key staff where it is. 

Your first 90 days: get off default rates and check your bills 

Compare and switch retailer 

From your move-in date, you'll usually be billed on the existing retailer's deemed terms. You haven't negotiated these, and default rates can be higher than the deals available on the market. 

In England and Scotland, switching retailers doesn't change your physical supply, require works at your premises or interrupt your water. A switch usually takes around 28 days, including a cooling-off period of at least seven days. When you compare quotes, check: 

• which water, wastewater and drainage services are included 

• standing charges and other fees 

• what's fixed: some deals fix retail charges while wholesale charges can still change 

• contract length, payment options and exit terms 

Compare business water rates for your new premises. 

Check your first bill line by line 

• the opening reading matches your photo 

• both SPIDs, the address and the meter serial number are correct 

• the rateable value is right, if you're unmetered 

• drainage charges are appropriate for the site 

• VAT on your water bill is applied correctly 

• billing starts on your move-in date, not before 
  
  

Claim the allowances your new site qualifies for 

• Surface water drainage: if rainwater doesn't reach the public sewer, apply through your retailer to have the charge removed. See how business water rates and drainage charges work. 

• Return to sewer: wholesalers assume 95% of the water you use returns to the sewer. If more is lost to evaporation or irrigation, or goes into your products, you can apply for a bigger allowance, usually backed by sub-meter readings. 

• Meter size: if your meter is bigger than you need, ask about replacing or resizing your business water meter. 

Running several sites after the move? Consolidated billing through one retailer can cut admin, with eligibility checked for each premises. 

Special situations when moving business premises 

Moving into a new build or a site with no connection 

If your premises already have a supply, you don't need a new connection. If they've never been connected, request one from the regional water company (in England and Wales, under section 45 of the Water Industry Act 1991) and allow plenty of time for excavation, permits and inspections. Building work needs an approved temporary supply: Thames Water, for example, warns it's illegal to use a neighbouring supply without permission. Once the supply is live, choose a retailer. In England, if an eligible new premises doesn't choose one, a retailer is appointed. 

The water has been disconnected 

Supplies are sometimes disconnected after long vacancies or unpaid bills. Note the meter serial number, identify the retailer registered to the premises and ask it to arrange reconnection with the wholesaler. There may be a charge, so raise it as soon as you get the keys, and flush the system before use. 

Shared, serviced or multi-let premises 

Serviced offices usually include water in the licence fee. In multi-let buildings, check whether your unit has its own meter or the landlord recharges you. If the landlord pays, you can't choose your own retailer.
 

Changing how a building is used 

Turning a shop into a café, salon, gym or production unit can bring extra requirements. In England and Wales, the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 require you to notify the water company and get its consent before extending or altering the water system in premises other than a house, or making a material change of use. The water company has 10 working days to refuse or set conditions. If it doesn't respond, consent is treated as granted. Some alterations don't need notice when an approved contractor carries them out, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have equivalent rules. A change of use may also mean trade effluent consent, a larger supply or different VAT treatment. 

Moving business premises checklist

Use this moving business premises checklist to keep your water, energy and connectivity on track. Start three months before your move if you can.

Water checklist at a glance

1. Check your lease and water contract for notice periods, evidence and how the supply must be left.
2. Find out who supplies water to your new premises and whether the landlord recharges it.
3. Apply for any trade effluent consent and notify planned plumbing work in good time.
4. Tell your current retailer your move-out date at least four weeks ahead.
5. Photograph and submit your final meter readings on moving-out day.
6. Leave a forwarding address for your final bill and any refund.
7. Photograph your opening readings on moving-in day and register with the new site's retailer.
8. Flush the water system and check legionella controls before anyone uses it.
9. Check your first bill, then compare retailers to move off default terms.
10. Claim any drainage, return to sewer or leak allowances your new site qualifies for.