[Jessicalorenzen]

So I've just moved into a property and I'm trying to fix some dripping taps in the bath - should be easy enough! Under the bath there is just copper pipes with no way of turning the water off. So next stop the isolation valve in the kitchen. The house is built on a hill so the main pipe comes in near the ceiling in the kitchen with the isolation tap attached. This pipe is old and the tap has rusted, while trying to shut the water off part of the tap has snapped off (probably need to replace this as well as the washer on the taps!)
Next point of call would normally be the outside shut off valve where the meter is. This is more than likely in the back neighbours garden to which I have no access. The water company has said I don't have meter and is giving me an 'average bill'... Any suggestions on how I can fix this or is the only option to gain access to the neighbours garden and hope the meter is there?
Thanks

[massplumber2008]

I don't see any way around getting to the shutoff outside...

I might also consult the water department here and request that they install a proper meter as you may NOT be using an "average" amount of water and there is no reason you should pay based on silliness like that!

I'd have them install a new meter and then have that "tap" in the kitchen fixed ASAP.

Mark