Local families save money on their water bills thanks to council partnership

Almost a thousand Brent households have benefited from water bill discounts, with families on the lowest incomes saving an average £418 annually.

In total, the partnership between Brent Council, Thames Water and Policy in Practice has delivered £384,000 of vital relief to 920 local families.

Water bills have risen by a quarter (26%) over the last year, the partners used a first-of-its-kind data-sharing approach to identify households eligible for water bill support. 

The council’s data was used alongside Thames Water records to identify eligible families. The families were then automatically enrolled onto an affordability scheme, reducing their bills without the need to apply.

Over 200 of the households were also automatically enrolled into an extra support scheme, providing up to £700 towards paying off arrears.

Councillor Promise Knight, Cabinet Member for Customer Experience, Resident Support and Culture, said:

“Too many families in Brent are under immense pressure from rising household costs, and we are determined to make sure residents receive every bit of support they are entitled to. By working in partnership with Thames Water and Policy in Practice, we’ve been able to identify households in need and get help to them automatically, without lengthy forms or complicated processes.

“This innovative approach is already putting hundreds of pounds back into people’s pockets and shows what’s possible when organisations come together to put residents first.”

For help and support with the cost of living, visit the cost of living hub.