DReffects
2018-03-03 14:43:09
- #1
Hello dear forum community!
Two years ago we purchased a plot of land from a municipality.
Included in the sale price was an advance payment for the construction of "the facilities for water supply." According to the purchase contract, the basis for calculation is the plot area as well as the floor area of the future building, which was estimated at a flat rate of 25% for this advance payment.
This resulted in a sum of around €1,300 – due to the size of our house and the consequently increased floor area, we are still expecting an additional payment to the municipality of about €1,200.
Now we have received an invoice from a civil engineering company which is completely unknown to us. It charges additional costs of around €1,600 for a property connection. Of a total connection length of 18.7 meters, 8.7 meters are billed. That is nearly €190 per running meter.
When we inquired, both the municipality and the company explained that "this is how it is handled here," meaning that everything over 10 meters has to be paid for by the owner.
My first step was therefore to consult the municipality’s statutes regarding the water connection. However, nothing is mentioned here about a length limit or anything similar. Only the amounts per square meter of land and floor area already stated in the property purchase contract are listed.
Neither the company nor the municipality has so far been able to provide an exact basis for the calculation. I have asked the municipality for a written statement. During this complaint about the invoice, the municipality has now, "as a gesture of goodwill," explained by phone that they would cover some of the meters of cost.
I promptly received a new invoice from the civil engineering company (with the same date from 2017...) and number.
Somewhat bizarre for me: an invoice is either correct and must be paid, or it is not. When it comes to property acquisition, we are not exactly at a fish market.
I am certainly not the most experienced person in this regard – could you give me some information?
In my research I found that what is commonly called a "house water connection" usually does not include things like the installation INSIDE the building (the bracket for the water meter and the outlet valve).
I look forward to any input!
Regards!
Two years ago we purchased a plot of land from a municipality.
Included in the sale price was an advance payment for the construction of "the facilities for water supply." According to the purchase contract, the basis for calculation is the plot area as well as the floor area of the future building, which was estimated at a flat rate of 25% for this advance payment.
This resulted in a sum of around €1,300 – due to the size of our house and the consequently increased floor area, we are still expecting an additional payment to the municipality of about €1,200.
Now we have received an invoice from a civil engineering company which is completely unknown to us. It charges additional costs of around €1,600 for a property connection. Of a total connection length of 18.7 meters, 8.7 meters are billed. That is nearly €190 per running meter.
When we inquired, both the municipality and the company explained that "this is how it is handled here," meaning that everything over 10 meters has to be paid for by the owner.
My first step was therefore to consult the municipality’s statutes regarding the water connection. However, nothing is mentioned here about a length limit or anything similar. Only the amounts per square meter of land and floor area already stated in the property purchase contract are listed.
Neither the company nor the municipality has so far been able to provide an exact basis for the calculation. I have asked the municipality for a written statement. During this complaint about the invoice, the municipality has now, "as a gesture of goodwill," explained by phone that they would cover some of the meters of cost.
I promptly received a new invoice from the civil engineering company (with the same date from 2017...) and number.
Somewhat bizarre for me: an invoice is either correct and must be paid, or it is not. When it comes to property acquisition, we are not exactly at a fish market.
I am certainly not the most experienced person in this regard – could you give me some information?
In my research I found that what is commonly called a "house water connection" usually does not include things like the installation INSIDE the building (the bracket for the water meter and the outlet valve).
I look forward to any input!
Regards!