OK, I rang Three Valleys Water again and they say that the meter was
"Compulsory Fit" when the tenants moved in.

And that under the Water Industry Act 1991 Section 114b, Subsection 2b
they are entitled to do this.

I checked this act at: http://tinyurl.com/oksun

But couldn't see anything under section 114 that seemed relevant.

I'm not feeling very confident about this anymore :-(

Charlie

Christian McArdle wrote:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/...ing/rights.htm

The way I read that, the water company can definitely insist on metering and
there is no case against the previous tenants either.

Christian.