Water Charges and 2026 Revaluation

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) is actively engaging with the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) regarding emerging concerns around water and sewerage charges linked to the 2026 Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) revaluation.

As members will be aware, the recent revaluation has resulted in significant changes to Rateable Values (RVs), with many properties experiencing notable increases even after adjustments of approximately 20–25% were applied nationally following lobbying from the ASSC.

While these changes sit within the NDR framework, they are now having a direct and unintended impact on water and sewerage charges, which are partly calculated based on RV. As a result, many self-catering operators are reporting substantial increases in their water bills, despite no corresponding change in actual water usage.

The ASSC has formally written to WICS to highlight these concerns and to seek a collaborative, proportionate response. Our focus is on ensuring that water charging remains fair, evidence-based, and reflective of real-world operating conditions.

What we are calling for

In our engagement with WICS, we have proposed:

• A focused review of affordability impacts on businesses
• Consideration of transitional measures to smooth significant increases
• Improved alignment between NDR policy and water charging frameworks

Our objective is clear: to avoid unintended financial pressures on operators while maintaining confidence in the system.

Important: Check your water bills

We strongly encourage all members to review their recent water bills carefully.

Scottish Water initially uploaded draft Rateable Values rather than finalised figures, which means some bills may have been incorrectly inflated. While this issue has now been addressed, it is important to remain vigilant.

You may be due a credit or adjustment.

If anything looks unusual or higher than expected, we recommend contacting your water provider directly.

Understanding meters and charges

It is also important to understand how your charges are calculated:

• If you have a water meter, your water consumption will be reflected in your bill based on actual usage
• However, drainage charges remain linked to your Rateable Value, regardless of metering

This means that even with a meter, increases in RV can still drive higher overall charges.

What you can do

• Review your latest bill in detail
• Check whether your RV aligns with the final valuation
• Contact your water provider if you believe you have been overcharged
• Consider whether installing a water meter could be beneficial for your business

If you do not currently have a meter, we recommend contacting your water provider to explore whether this is a viable option.

The ASSC will continue to engage constructively with WICS and the Scottish Government to ensure that outcomes remain fair, proportionate, and aligned with the realities of operating in Scotland’s self-catering sector.

We will keep members updated as discussions progress.