Any leak within the boundary of your property is your responsibility. Somewhere outside your property there is a connection to the main supply, I suspect it's your responsibility up to that point, but the plumber should know. However, it would seem from what you say that the leak is located somewhere your side of the meter, given the meter is recording the excess water, which would not otherwise be the case. That means it is your responsibility.

 

Apparently the water suppliers are required by law to inform you if your water consommation is abnormally high.

If you get the problem fixed by a plumber and can produce a document proving that the leak has been repaired, your bill is limited to the amount representing twice your normal use.

If no leak is found, you can ask the water supplier to check the meter which may be faulty.

https://droit-finances.commentcamarche.com/faq/7301-fuite-d-eau-et-facture-vos-droits

 

4k is a big leak. It is not a dripping tap !

Where has that water gone. Surely their must be signs of a leak.

 

The plumber will look for the signs - the leak may well be outside the home and the water finding a natural course.

4k is most certainly very high

 

Thanks for the responses. An update: I had the plumber round yesterday and the (serious) leak it is obviously on my side of the meter in the pipe very close to the meter inside the exterior manhole space, away from the house. So the good news is that I won't have to pay for excavation works. If I've understood correctly, for this kind of a leak it should also be fairly easy to exert my right to get the water supplier to limit the consumption bill to double my usual annual consumption. Do you think I'll get any mileage from trying to argue that they were slow to warn me?

 

Thanks for the responses. An update: I had the plumber round yesterday and the (serious) leak it is obviously on my side of the meter in the pipe very close to the meter inside the exterior manhole space, away from the house. So the good news is that I won't have to pay for excavation works. If I've understood correctly, for this kind of a leak it should also be fairly easy to exert my right to get the water supplier to limit the consumption bill to double my usual annual consumption. Do you think I'll get any mileage from trying to argue that they were slow to warn me?

That would depend entirely on how often they normally read the meters.


Must be a relief that the plumber found the leak and that it doesn't require excavation work.

 

Here you have an example of a letter:

https://www.inc-conso.fr/content/su...te-une-fuite-deau-apres-compteur-vous-demandez-le-plafonnement-de-votre-facture

which you could use.

 

Here you have an example of a letter... ...which you could use.

For ChrisJH. Not knowing how good your french is, I would note that in "je vous demande," demande means request or ask, not demand (which is exiger).