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Businesses: Compensation

Asked by Mims DaviesConservativeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 14 April 2026UIN 124163

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration she has made of paying businesses compensation directly for water outages in shared businesses premises instead of landlords.

Answered by Emma Hardy

All customers of water and sewerage companies are entitled to guaranteed minimum standards of service, as set out by Government. These rights are known as the guaranteed standards scheme (GSS). Where a company fails to meet any of the standards, it is required to make a specified payment to the affected household or business customer.

Ofwat is responsible for monitoring the scheme. Details on payment amounts and conditions can be found here.

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