As might be expected this provided the company with a steady, but unspectacular income from the rents paid by the householders supplied with water.
[2] In 1726, a Newcomen engine was installed at York Buildings but when the company fell into financial difficulties in 1732 the engine was broken up, cylinders being sold to the London Lead Company and Sir James Lowther.
However the business had been injured as far back as 1731, by the establishment of a rival Chelsea Waterworks Company.
In that year, its new proprietors resolved to raise a joint stock of £1,200,000 to buy forfeited and other estates in Great Britain.
This fund and borrowings then enabled the company to buy estates costing over £300,000, with a rental of £15,000.
In January 1720, it proposed to undertake life assurance, though the Attorney-General advised them that this was ultra vires.
In September, the company agreed to 'proceed only according to ancient known and regular methods, agreeable to their constitution and of the encouragement given them by Parliament'.
In 1721, it raised money by conducting lotteries, the prizes including stock in the company and annuities secured on its estates.
[5] On 3 April 1732 George Robinson, the Member of Parliament for Great Marlow, was expelled from Parliament for diverting £356,000 of funds of the Charitable Corporation into buying York Buildings Company stock; the profits of the sale were given to him.