How to Change Address with Your Water Company in 2026
When you move house in the UK, you need to tell your water company about your new address. Unlike energy suppliers, you can’t choose your water provider – it’s determined by where you live. But notifying them about your move is essential to avoid billing problems, account issues, and payment disputes.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about changing your address with your water company in 2026, including what happens if you don’t update, how to find your provider, and how long the process takes.
Understanding Your Water Company
Your water company supplies drinking water and handles sewage for your area. In England and Wales, there are 10 regional water companies, each serving a specific geographic area. You have no choice about which company serves your property – it’s determined by your postcode.
The major UK water companies include:
- Thames Water (London and Thames Valley)
- United Utilities (North West England)
- Severn Trent Water (Midlands)
- Yorkshire Water (Yorkshire)
- Anglian Water (East England)
- Southern Water (South East)
- South West Water (Devon and Cornwall)
- Northumbrian Water (North East)
- Welsh Water (Wales)
- Wessex Water (South West
Your water company sends you bills based on your meter reading or rateable value. When you move, you need to update your address so bills go to your new home and the account is properly transferred or closed at your old property.
What Happens If You Don’t Update Your Address with Your Water Company?
Failing to notify your water company about your move can lead to problems such as, including billing disputes, account confusion, and potential credit rating damage.
Billing at Two Addresses
The most common problem when people don’t notify their water company is continued billing at the old address.
This creates several issues:
- Overlap charges – You may be charged at both your old and new address during the transition period, leading to unexpected bills.
- Disputes with new occupants – The new residents may receive bills for your water usage and refuse to pay, creating disputes.
- Difficulty getting refunds – If you’ve overpaid or are owed a final bill refund, it’s harder to claim if your address isn’t updated.
- Account confusion – Your old account may still be active when you try to set up a new one, causing delays and complications.
Missed Bills and Payment Issues
If your water bills continue going to your old address and you don’t receive them, you might miss payment deadlines. This can result in:
- Late payment charges – Water companies charge interest on overdue bills.
- Debt collection action – Unpaid bills can be passed to debt collectors.
- Credit rating damage – Missed water bills can negatively impact your credit score, affecting future mortgage or loan applications.
- Supply issues – In extreme cases, water companies can restrict supply for non-payment.
Account Setup Problems at Your New Home
Where You Can Update Your Water Company Address?
Option 1: SlothMove (The Stress-Free Solution)
When you move home, updating your water company is just one of many essential notifications. You also need to update your address with your energy supplier, council, GP, driving licence, V5C, utilities, and dozens more!
SlothMove handles all of it in one go.
Instead of contacting each water company individually and managing meter readings and billing dates, SlothMove lets you update your address across multiple organisations (including your water company) through a single 15-
minute form.
Here’s why over 75,000 people have chosen SlothMove:
- Save 14+ hours of admin time: based on data from over 75,000 completed moves.
- One form updates everything: DVLA, NHS, HMRC, councils, utilities, and more.
- Cheaper than mail redirection: Just £30 versus up to £87 for mail forwarding.
- Secure and trusted: ICO-registered, GDPR compliant, with 256-bit SSL encryption, backed by Taylor Rose MW (one of the UK’s largest conveyancing firms).
SlothMove handles your water company address change along with all your other essential updates. No chasing, no forgotten providers, no stress.
Option 2: Contact Your Water Company Directly
By phone: Call your water company’s customer service team. You’ll need your account number (found on your bill) and your new address. Processing typically takes 5-10 working days.
By post: Write to your water company with your old address, new address, account number, and moving date. This is the slowest method and can take 2-3 weeks.
The catch: You need to contact each water company individually. If you’re moving to a different region, you may need to close your account with one company and open a new one with another. You’ll also need to provide meter readings at both your old and new properties on your moving day.
Meter Readings and Billing Dates
When you update your address, it is best practice to record meter readings to avoid billing overlap and disputes.
At your old property: Take a meter reading on your moving day (or the day before). Provide this to your old water company so they can issue a final bill.
At your new property: Take a meter reading on your moving day. Provide this to your new water company so they can start billing from the correct point. If you don’t provide accurate meter readings, you may be charged for water you didn’t use, or the new occupants may dispute bills in your name.
When to Update Your Address With Your Water Company?
You must notify your water company about your address change. There’s no specific grace period, so you should update it as soon as possible after you move.
The Practical Timeline:
Best practice: Notify your water company at least 2-3 weeks before your moving
date. Here’s why:
- Avoid billing overlap – Early notification gives the company time to process the change and close your old account before the new occupants move in.
- Arrange meter readings – Some companies require scheduled meter readings, which take time to arrange.
- Get your final bill – You’ll receive your final bill at your new address if you notify them early.
- Set up your new account – Notifying early ensures your new account is ready on moving day.
- On moving day: Take meter readings at both your old and new properties. Send these to your water company immediately.
- After moving: Check your water company account online within 5-10 working days to confirm your address has been updated and your new account is active.
Making Your Move Stress-Free
Updating your address with the water company in 2026 doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you choose to contact your supplier directly or use SlothMove to handle all your address changes in one go, the important thing is getting it done quickly to avoid fines and complications.
The SlothMove difference: While updating your address with your water company is free through your supplier gateway, you’ll still face hours of work updating everywhere else. For only £30, SlothMove bundles your essential address updates and send them off so you can relax! We cover updates like HMRC records (covering tax, National Insurance, tax credits, and Child Benefit), your driving licence, V5C, GP, dentist, council, utilities, electoral register, and more, all from one simple form
Over 75,000 people have already made their moves stress-free with SlothMove.
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