Huge Water Bills Due to Underground Leak – Advice on Leakage Allowance Claim

[ranj]

Hi all,

 

Hoping for some guidance from anyone who’s been through a leakage allowance claim with Severn Trent.

 

3‑bed semi, 2 adults + 1 child. Meter fitted in 2022. Since December last year our bills have risen to completely unrealistic levels for our property size and usage:

• Dec 2024: £772
• Jun 2025: £1,066
• Dec 2025: £1,445

No change in usage. ST originally told me bills were “just generally higher” and suggested water‑saving tips, which I followed. I did everything suggested, including the Get Water Fit scheme and installing the free devices they sent. Still kept rising.

 

By June, when the bill went over £1k, I pushed again and said something more serious must be going on. After few more months of back‑and‑forth, Severn Trent finally agreed to investigate. In November they confirmed there was a leak, but on my side of the boundary, so I had to get my insurer involved. A contractor appointed through my insurance located and repaired the leak. Leak now fixed and ST have closed the case.

I now need to submit a one‑time leakage allowance claim, so I want to get it right. 

 

Has anyone been through this process and can share what to include or what Severn Trent look for? Any tips on what to include so the claim isn’t rejected?

 

Thanks for any help. It really is appreciated.

[Andrew_C]

Been there...

 

However, we're with Southern Water; they contacted us to say, "We think you've got a leak".  I think they based billing for the 2 affected quarters on the previous year.  I'd have thought ST would have suggested something like that.  

 

Southern were very upfront and helpful throughout, with multiple visits, including digging the meter up to try to find where it was.  It was on our bit of pipe in the end.  SW engineer - " Ahh, black poly; that'll have split".  Now waiting for the next bit to go.