💦 Looking to submit a water meter reading? See our guide.
Your water meter measures how much water you use, helping us keep your bills accurate. Most properties have an individual meter, though flats or conversions may share one.
About 25% of UK houses do not have a water meter. If you can't locate one, ask your agent or landlord, and they should be able to confirm if you have a meter or not.
Finding your water meter
Water meters are usually located in one of the following places:
Inside your property, under the kitchen sink, next to the stopcock, or in a utility cupboard near the front door.
Outside your property, in a small box or chamber on your driveway, garden path, or pavement. It may have a metal or plastic cover and sit around 40 cm (18 inches) below ground level.
In flats: often in a communal cupboard or garage.
The water meter itself is typically round — about 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter — with a serial number printed on the side and a display showing numbers in m³ (cubic metres).
If your meter is located underground, you may find it covered by water or condensation. Don’t worry — there’s no electricity in the meter, so it’s safe to reach in. You might need to wipe the face of the meter gently to make the reading visible.
Flats and renting
If you live in a block of flats, you may find several meters grouped together. Make sure you identify the correct one by matching the serial number with your landlord or letting agent.
If you're renting, your letting agent or landlord should:
Let you know the meter’s location
If you’re not sure where yours is — or if it’s in a locked or hard-to-reach place — your landlord or letting agent should be able to help you locate it and arrange access.
Provide the opening water meter reading and photo in your inventory.
Bulk water meters
In some blocks of flats or converted properties, there may be a single “bulk” water meter measuring the total usage for all homes in the building.
If that’s the case, Bunch cannot supply or bill you directly for water, since we can’t determine your individual usage. Typically:
The landlord or managing agent pays the main water bill.
Water charges are either included in your rent or billed separately by your landlord.
If you’re unsure which applies to your property, contact your landlord or letting agent for clarification.