Lapta Water Bills

[rogerb]

I wrote to Cyprus Today on 24th June asking if one of their Turkish speaking journalists could get some sense from Lapta Belediyesi and publish a definitive explanation as to what we are being charged for and how the whole system works. Some of you may have seen my letter published in last Saturday's edition. There is a note from the Editor(?) saying that they are looking into it and will publish results later. Let's hope they have more success than the rest of us!

[Leither]

We are being charged 25tl for meter rental thats from the Beledye office so the BRS comment is a load of rubbish,where do they get their info from I wonder.

[Bertie]

Perhaps,you should go and speak to the Belediye!!!!!

[elizabeth]

We had to show our Kocan to register for the meter card so the Beli do know what the full situation with each and every one of us.

[elizabeth]

We are being charged 45TL for 10 tons and we have a full kocan etc, Tolga said once the extra 20 is a charge from the district office then again he said it's a standing charge on the water, so really it's anybodys guess.

I think , but again I am just guessing, that its something to with if the 'full kochan' has been registered with the municipality or not, so its possible to have the full kochan but no one has actually told the bele that you have it - but the whole thing IS very confusing. I would suggest maybe try going there with your full kochan in hand and asking specifically if / why you are on the '45tl for 10 tons' and not the '25tl for 10 tons' others are paying. Before we got our new meter I think we were paying the '45' rate. When we went to do our new meter card registration I asked how much is it for the 10 tons and initially the guy said 45TL and I thrust my kochan in front of him, which he looked at for a bit then tapped on the computer a bit and then said 25. Maybe I just got lucky.

Sorry Erol but I have to say perhaps nationality rather than luck comes into it.

[erol]

Sorry Erol but I have to say perhaps nationality rather than luck comes into it.

Maybe , though I speak no Turkish and showing him my kochan definitely seemed to make the difference.

[JoandJelly]

I registered for friends who have a shared kochan and they pay 25tl!

[erol]

I registered for friends who have a shared kochan and they pay 25tl!

It is not the Kochan per se (as I understand it - which IS a very limited understanding) but something to do with the Kochan being registered or recorded at the local municipality ?

[paul90]

When I went to see Tolga and Miss Oezuem in the Lapta office they was quite clear regarding who pays 25TL per month and who pays 45TL:
1. It does not depend on your Kochan, but on whether or not your Property has been granted "Approval".
2. If the property has received Final Approval then you need to take the certificate to Miss Oezuem in the Lapta District Office and she will put a copy in her files alongside a copy of any Kochan or Sales Contract that should already be in the file when you applied for a water meter in your own name.
The she will put you on the lower standard rate of 25TL.
3. If you cannot get Final Approval they are willing to consider putting you on the lower rate if you can get Partial Approval.
4. As long as you have no form of Approval you will pay the higher rate of 45TL.
5. To get Final Aproval you need to visit Mrs Hayriye Hanim in the Girne District Office (tel. 8152117) with a copy of your Building Permission and she will advise on the procedure to get the Approval (someone will visit and inspect the house to make sure it conforms to the original architects plans etc). Mr Kerem in the same Girne District Office is another useful contact.

Hope this info helps.

[elizabeth]

Thank you Paul90 for the information, at last a clear explanation. What a pity that the Belidiyesi didn't inform the public, or indeed the representative of the BRS of these facts when the meters were being installed. It would have saved a lot of frustration on the part of both the public and the staff in the water office.

[Bertie]

Paul90, can you explain what you mean by 'final approval'????

[Keithcaley]

Paul90, can you explain what you mean by 'final approval'????

In Paul90's post, the term 'Final approval' is explained quite explicitly in his point (5): -

"...someone will visit and inspect the house to make sure it conforms to the original architects plans etc"

This is also precisely what I understand the term to mean, and although I live in Alsancak, I had to wait until this had been completed, and a certificate issued, before I 'qualified' to be charged the 'normal' rate for water - on the normal system, not a 'smart' meter - rather than the so-called 'Builder's Rate'. I had to go and look it up, as earlier I couldn't remember which darn bit of paper it was!

I trust that this helps.

[pc4854]

I have just completed Final Approval and it is quite a process. Not only does it require certification from the District Office that the building complies with the submitted plans but in addition you have to satisfy local council requirements as well. This includes, if your property has garden walls or fences, pavements to the size laid down by the local council and includes also a full substructure of water drainage, electric and telephone channels and manhole covers. In my own case that cost in excess of £10,000 and was a bit of a surprise.