As a tenant, your landlord can make you responsible for payment of water usage charges where the property is separately metered. Your water account will only charge you for water use, not water and sewerage service charges.
Residential and Business customer water fees and charges or tariffs are set in accordance with the Essential Services Commission's determination of our Water Plan.
Leaks should be reported to your Real Estate Agent or Landlord as soon as possible.
Your landlord is responsible for water supply and sewerage service maintenance. This includes leaks, blockages, and pipes. If you suspect a leak at your property, contact your Real Estate Agent or Landlord as soon as possible so they can arrange a plumber to locate and repair it. It is advisable that you turn off the stop tap at the meter where possible to eliminate further loss of water.
Moving Rental Property
If you are moving out of a rental property please notify us two days prior to moving out so that we can read your meter. This will ensure you are not charged for water used after you move out. If you are moving into a new rental property, you may notify us of the address of your new property at the same time.
Landlords
As the owner of a separately metered rental property, you are responsible for payment of the water and sewerage service charges. You may make the tenant responsible for the water usage charges by registering them with us. This will incur a Special Meter Reading fee. If the property is not separately metered (one common meter supplying a group of units) you, as the landlord, are responsible for a proportion of the usage charges, as well as the service charges. In these situations, usage charges cannot be passed onto the tenant.
You are also responsible for water supply and sewerage service maintenance and the water meter. This includes everything on the house side of the meter or up to the connection with our sewer branch which is usually inside the property boundary.
If you are moving out of a rental property please notify us two days prior to moving out.
Real Estate Agents
The owner of a separately metered rental property is responsible for payment of the water and sewerage service charges. They may make the tenant responsible for the water usage charges by registering them with us. This will incur a Special Meter Reading fee. A special meter read must be carried out within 48 hours of any change in tenancy.
If the property is not separately metered (one common meter supplying a group of units) the landlord is responsible for a proportion of the usage charges, as well as the service charges. In these situations, usage charges cannot be passed onto the tenants.
Accredited Real Estate Agents
Real Estate Agents may read the meter by formal arrangement with us. Upon any change of tenancy (either for new tenants or vacating tenants) if the meter is read by the real estate agent the Special Meter Reading fee will be waived. If your agency would like to become an accredited real estate agent, please contact us on 1300 360 007.
To register a change in residential tenants, please complete the appropriate form below.
Residential Tenancy Advice (PDF, 113kb)
New Ratepayer Registration (PDF, 124kb)