Water Supply Cut Off Without Our Knowledge

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 3:32pm

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Keith001

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Posts: 131

121 helpful points

Location: Calp / Calpe

Joined: 7 Oct 2020

My brother is in Calpe this week to continue renovation of our flat but noticed that our water supply had been cut off . He pays all his bills by direct debit to Aquas De Calpe so wondered what was going on.

He went up on the roof of our block to check our water meter which was originally in a metal cage a year ago (with all the other water meters of each flat) . The cage had been removed and all the water meters enclosed in a locked metal cabinet so one couldn't see the meters . So he couldn't check to see if our meter/supply tap was faulty or turned off.

My brother visited Aquas de Calpe but their representative said they have no knowledge of our water supply being cut off and washed his hands of all responsibility. They said they didn't own the metal cabinet and didn't have the keys and it was a local issue for us to sort out.

We think the water company has turned off our supply in error because the flat above has suddenly become vacant and put on auction for sale. It might be that their engineer has turned off our water supply in error.

Or

The neighbour next door , who claims to be the President/Administrator of the block (there is no legal Comunidad/President/Administrator and it is self-administered) is causing us more trouble and may have had the metal enclosure installed/locked. He has cut off our water supply before and we've had to call the police to warn him , but he could have done it again. The man is a trouble-maker and well known to the local police but they do nothing apart from give him a warning.

If the water company won't help should we contact the Police again and ask them to intervene? Or are we within our rights to break the lock to gain access to our water meter/supply?

Isn't it illegal for a third party to cut-off our water supply?

Not really sure what to do and what rights we have to access our own water meter/supply.

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Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 4:52pm

Sligogent

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Posts: 1046

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Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 31 Jan 2021

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 4:52pm

I would have no hesitation to cut lock open to check on Water supply, but first I would contact Troublemaker and also have my phone set up to record conversation and ask him polite if he know where Key is, If a negative response cut lock open, you have evidence on Phone to back your self up, as you need water for day to day living, The President is obliged to open lock on request as if there was emergency a bust pipe.

That my view on it, you will get more experienced replies than mine, you could not be living with that B/S, nonsense

Best of luck 👍

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 6:51pm

dinnerout

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Location: Beniarbeig

Joined: 18 Sep 2015

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 6:51pm

Once you've sorted this it might be worth considering the question of President and Administration company because I'm assuming you have communal bills and communal charges like insurance, repairs, electricity etc? There should be an AGM with Agenda including budget and expenses.

It's written into Spanish Law. However if you don't speak Spanish and none of your neighbours are Brits it might be a problem or at least a challenge. But I would definitely want to be finding out more, especially in case a more serious problem comes up in the future. If you want the Law/Act that covers this (in English) send me a PM with your email address and I'll send it to you.

Steve

Ps, pretty sure when you get inside the cabinet you'll find your supply switched off by whoever installed the cabinet...that happened at my rental once because it was assumed the property was empty.