Compare business water suppliers in Edinburgh

Scotland’s non-domestic properties were revalued from 1 April 2026, using rental values at 1 April 2025 and set by the independent Scottish Assessors. Edinburgh moved the most. The Scottish Government’s statistics show the city’s average rateable value rose by 17%, the largest increase of any council area, with accommodation a big contributor.

That isn’t only a business rates story. Scottish Water uses the same rateable value for unmeasured water and sewerage charges, and property drainage is usually charged on it too, so mygov.scot confirms a revaluation can change your water charges. A New Town guest house whose value climbed this year could see its drainage line climb with it without using a drop more water.

Scottish Water’s charges also rose by an average of 8.67% for 2026/27, the figure it published in January 2026 and the same average Water Plus gives for business clean water.

Here’s what that means on a bill (illustrative)

Take a small hotel that paid about £6,000 in Scottish Water wholesale charges last year. Using the 8.67% average as a rough guide gives roughly £6,520. If much of that is property drainage and its rateable value rose sharply, the real figure could land higher. Every provider passes the wholesale part through unchanged, so the retail charge is what you compare.

Check your new rateable value on the assessor’s notice, then check your provider has billed from the right date.

The Old Town grew along the ridge between the Castle and Holyrood. UNESCO describes its narrow closes and wynds running off the High Street, with tall tenements built upwards because plots were narrow. The New Town to the north followed in planned stages from 1767, and both have been a World Heritage Site since 1995. Shops, cafés and offices sit beneath flats throughout.

Buildings like these weren’t designed with a meter for every ground-floor unit. Where a meter can’t be fitted, water and sewerage are charged as unmeasured, on rateable value. For a busy café that can work out fine. For a quiet office with a high rateable value it can be an expensive way to pay.

• A shop on unmeasured charges that could take a meter may do better on measured charges.
• Two metered supplies into one property under the same customer each carry their own fixed charge, so check both are needed.
• The rateable value part of unmeasured charges doesn’t apply to vacant property, so tell your provider when a unit falls empty.
• A landlord recharging several tenants from one supply should be able to show how the split is calculated.

Not sure whether you have a meter? Our guide to finding your water meter is the place to start.

August in the centre. The Fringe and the Tattoo run through most of August, and the festival calendar stretches from the Science Festival in April to Hogmanay. Hotels, bars and short-stay venues end up with one very heavy quarter, and an estimated read across it can be badly out in either direction. Ask for an actual read before and after the festivals.

Leith. Forth Ports runs the Port of Leith, and the waterfront mixes working port, offices and hospitality. In 2024 the Port of Leith Distillery, described as the UK’s first vertical distillery, started production and brought whisky distilling back to Leith. Distillers and brewers send process water to the sewer, which brings trade effluent consent and charges based on volume and strength.

The west and the conference trade. Edinburgh Park, west of the centre, describes itself as one of Scotland’s most established business park communities. Office campuses like this tend to have larger meters and wide areas of roof and car park, so meter size and property drainage matter more than how much water staff use. Closer in, the EICC on Morrison Street holds up to 5,760 people, and many nearby hotels and restaurants occupy modern blocks where a landlord’s meter serves several occupiers.

SEPA’s water scarcity report of 15 October 2026, the latest when we checked on 19 October 2026, had the Tyne (Lothian) at moderate scarcity, with the Almond and Firth of Forth areas at alert. These levels are aimed at businesses taking water straight from rivers, lochs or groundwater. If you hold your own abstraction licence, keep an eye on the weekly reports.

Registered charities and community amateur sports clubs can apply to Scotland’s exemption scheme. Those with annual income up to £199,999 pay no water or sewerage charges, and those from £200,000 to £299,999 get 50% off the wholesale charge. Charity shops, premises with a permanent alcohol licence and public cafés are excluded. You apply through your provider every year, and the 2026/27 deadline is 31 March 2027.

Billing problems go to your licensed provider and supply problems to Scottish Water. If you’re still unhappy at the end of either process, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is the final step. Our complaints guide walks through it.