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Business Water for Property Developers
Compare licensed water retailers for development sites, from building supply to final connections and SPID registration.
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Home / Who we help / Property developers
Last updated August 2026
Who we help
Business Water for Property Developers
Developers deal with water at both ends of a project. During the build there is a temporary building supply feeding the site, and at completion every new property needs its connection registered so it can be billed and, for commercial units, switched. Both ends leak money when they run on defaults.
Building supplies count as non-household, so they can be switched like any business supply. England opened the market in 2017 and Scotland in 2008. This page covers building water, new connections, SPID registration and where development companies overpay.
| Wholesale supply | Comes from regional water companies (Thames Water, Severn Trent, Yorkshire Water, and others). |
|---|---|
| Building supply | A temporary site supply is a non-household account in its own right, and it can be put on a competitive tariff like any other. |
| New connections | Connections are applied for through the regional wholesaler, and each new commercial premises gets a SPID when it enters the market. |
| Biggest savings levers | Building supply tariffs, prompt SPID registration and closing accounts cleanly at handover. |
| Market opened | England in 2017 and Scotland in 2008. |
| Licensed retailers | Around 20 are licensed by Ofwat to supply non-household water. |
Where the money goes
Why developers pay more for water than they should
A development site touches the water market three times. The building supply during construction, the new connection and SPID registration at completion, and the handover of accounts to buyers or occupiers. Each stage defaults to the most expensive arrangement unless someone actively manages it.
Site supplies are set up in a hurry and forgotten. The account starts on a deemed tariff, stays there for the life of the build, and is often still open months after practical completion because nobody thinks to close it.
At the other end, new commercial units that are finished but unsold sit in the developer name, accruing standing charges on default terms. Registering the SPID properly and reporting vacancy keeps those costs at the minimum until the unit is handed over.
Where it shows up
The five areas developers overpay
Where property developers overpay and why it matters.
Building supply on deemed terms
The temporary supply feeding the site almost always starts on a deemed tariff. A build that runs for two years pays that premium for two years unless the account is switched.
Accounts left open after completion
Site accounts that outlive the site keep billing standing charges. Closing the building supply at completion, with a final read, stops the meter running on an empty cabin.
Unregistered or late SPIDs
A new commercial premises cannot be billed properly or switched until its SPID exists in the market. Late registration leaves units in limbo and bills arriving late and estimated.
Unsold units on default terms
Finished units in the developer name sit on deemed tariffs and occupied assumptions. Reporting them vacant reduces what accrues while they wait for a buyer.
Surface water drainage on new sites
New developments with sustainable drainage that keeps rainwater out of the public sewer may not owe surface water charges. The banding is worth checking on every new site.
Results
Case studies
Surface water drainage audit across the estate uncovered £35,364 in refunds and £8,800 a year in ongoing savings.
Worth knowing
Eligibility and how the market works
Building supplies and commercial units count as non-household supply, so they are eligible to switch retailer through the open market run by Open Water. England opened in April 2017 and Scotland has been open since 2008. The market rules are overseen by Ofwat.
New connections themselves are applied for through the regional wholesaler, which owns the network. The retailer you choose affects billing and service, and the connection process and charges sit with the wholesaler either way.
The market
Switch water supplier for your development company
Yes. England’s non-household water market opened to competition in April 2017 and Scotland’s opened in 2008, so every site and unit can choose a different water retailer. Wholesale supply still comes from your regional water company; only the retailer (the company that bills you and reads your meter) changes.
The 12 retailers below are all licensed by Ofwat to supply non-household water. Pricing, service and sector experience vary from retailer to retailer.
Choose your route
Routes to procurement
Three ways developers typically bring a new water contract in. Each comes with its own trade-off between control, effort and how sharp the price lands.
Direct with a retailer
The developer signs straight with a licensed retailer. Best for a single site that wants a sharper rate on the building supply. You handle the comparison and the switch yourself.
Company-wide contract
Developers running several sites can put every building supply and retained unit on one central contract with one retailer. One renewal date across the whole pipeline.
Broker-led market test
A water broker compares the market for you, handles the paperwork and manages the switch from start to finish. Nothing changes on site.
Why choose The Business Water Shop
- Award-winning independent brokerage, not owned by or tied to any water retailer.
- Rated 5 stars on Google and 5 stars on Trustpilot by UK businesses.
- Experts with experience in business water for property developers and construction companies.
- We compare quotes from up to 14 licensed retailers.
- We handle the whole switch, from the comparison and paperwork to the supplier contact.
- One point of contact for multi-property portfolios.
Questions
Developer water FAQs
How do I get a quote?
Send a recent water bill for the building supply. The SPID, annual volume and current retailer are all on it. We come back within two working days with an alternative quote and a flag if anything looks worth checking on deemed terms or open accounts.
How does a new property get a SPID?
When the wholesaler completes a new non-household connection, the premises are registered in the central market system and given a SPID. Once the SPID exists, the unit can be billed accurately and switched to any licensed retailer.
Who do we apply to for a new connection?
The regional wholesaler for the site. They own the network, set the connection charges and carry out the work. A retailer or broker can manage the application, but the connection itself always sits with the wholesaler.
What happens to water accounts when we sell a unit?
The account should transfer to the buyer or occupier from the date of handover, with a meter reading taken at completion. Accounts left in the developer name keep accruing charges until the market is told otherwise.
Who fixes a burst pipe or supply problem?
The regional wholesaler still owns and maintains the network up to your boundary, whichever retailer you choose. Anything on the private side of the meter remains the site operator responsibility.
We run several sites. Can they go on one contract?
Yes. Retailers operate nationally, so a group can consolidate sites in different wholesaler regions onto a single retailer, one contract and one point of contact.
Will switching disrupt anything on site?
No. A switch is paperwork rather than plumbing. There is no interruption to supply, no engineer visit and nothing changes on the programme.
