FOI request (FOI227073)

Refunds for excessive water and sewerage charges.

Requested Thu 02 November 2017
Responded  Thu 02 November 2017

As a result of the High Court decision in Jones v LB Southwark, LB Southwark decided to reimburse tenants it had unlawfully overcharged for water and sewerage in breach of inter alia the Water Re-Sale Orders.  Court transcripts and other reports suggest that this unlawful overcharging for water supply is evident throughout the Country.

WaterClaimsUK have been instructed by a number of social housing tenants in your area to investigate the possibility that they too may have been overcharged for their respective water charges.

Under either the EIR and/or the FOI Act, we would be grateful if you would provide:

           All recorded information (including Committee Reports, minutes and e-mails) on your liability to refund excessive water and sewerage charges and the arrangements for such refunds.

            A copy of your standard tenancy agreement including the service charge schedule from 2001 onwards including any subsequent amended tenancy agreements used.

A copy of all correspondence clearly setting out the negotiations surrounding your Agreement (as social housing landlord) with your Water Company re your water billing of social housing tenants.

A copy of any agreement/ contract between yourselves and the water company pertaining to the supply of water to your social housing tenants irrespective of whether you consider yourself to be an agent or water re-seller.

Response

Information not held

Hastings Borough Council does not have any social housing they were all transferred in 1996 as part of a Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) to 1066 Housing Association (now Optivo).