QLD Tenant refuses to pay for water usage

My tenant refuses to pay for water usage. She has asked for a water compliance certificate.
I tried to get a plumber to the premises to get one done but she refuses the plumber entry.
As a landlord what are my rights?

 

Get the PM to advise a date and time the plumber will be attending.
Have the PM attend at the same time and let the plumber in.

 

I've been through this. It's a PITA. For the record, there is no such thing as a 'water compliance certificate' in a legal / RTA sense.

It's just a term made up by plumbers to profit from this situation (similar to the smoke alarm scam) - it gives the landlord something in writing to prove the property is water efficient.

 

Kick the tenant out.
These types of people are worth the hassle.
My PM refers to these as "Professional Renters"

 

And when you do take your sweet time to release the bond.

Cheers,
Oracle.

 

In Queensland, it is illegal to charge the tenant for water usage unless the property is compliant with water saving features. Other conditions also apply.

The term, in Queensland, was NOT “made up” by plumbers. It is actually in the relevant leglislation.

So you do need to be able to prove compliance. Most usually by having a plumber certify the property complies with the leglislation.
Marg

 

Issue the appropriate notice and attend at the time with the plumber.

Or get your PM to attend take care of it.

BUT, as well as compliance, charging for water usage must also be written in the lease. Better check. If not, you can’t charge until you renew the lease with the proper clause included.

Your PM should be able to advise. If self managing, better start reading up on tenancy leglislation.
Marg

 

In Sydney their is no additional contractual requirements although premises are supposed to be water efficient.

You can simply state that you measured the water rate and it was correct.

Their is not criteria for certification.
Paying water charges



:


Minimum criteria
The minimum criteria for passing on water usage charges are:

• the rental premises must be individually metered (or water is delivered by vehicle), and
• the charges must not exceed the amount billed for water usage by the water supplier, and
• the rental premises must meet required ‘water efficiency’ standards.

Proving water efficiency
Water efficiency measure should appear on the condition report. If you’re not sure, ask the landlord or agent to provide some evidence. If you’d like to test it yourself, turn the tap on completely and the flow rate should be less than nine litres in a minute.

Water consumption charges
You are only responsible to pay water usage charges. A water usage charge is based on the volume of water supplied to the residential premise.

Water can be supplied to the premise in different ways depending on which services are available.

Time to pay
When it is time to pay the water bill, the landlord or agent will provide you with a copy of the bill or evidence of how the usage was calculated, within three months.

You have 21 days to pay the amount owing.

Important things to know:

• If you remove or tamper with the water efficiency devices you still have to pay for water usage and you may have to pay to replace them.
• If you think your water bill is too high, you can contact your local water provider about average water usage.
• Water billing periods are unlikely to align with tenancy agreements. It is important that the water meter reading be noted on the condition report at the start and end of each tenancy to make sure you’re not paying for another tenant’s water usage.
• Social housing tenants should contact Housing NSW for water usage payments.
• These provisions apply to all tenancies, regardless of the terms of any existing leases.
• Water usage must be paid separate to rent.

 

I will not be renewing their lease which ends soon.

 

That is why I want the compliance done by a plumber.

My PM will be taking care of it. yes water usage is written in the lease to be paid by the tenant.

 

Deal them a loaded hand where your joker will ace them.....

Benn there done that, no one want loser tenants.....the sooner you off load them the better, just tell them they are never too set foot in NSW....lol

Always from QLD tenants, it seems

 

LOL... yes these tenants have been a real pain in the..... I will not be renewing their lease which will be ending in a few months.

 

Make sure your PM is familiar with notice periods etc, in NSW if not done right then LL needs to give 90 days notice.

You will find water is often a pest, and I have found so far that a lot of QLDers seem too not want too pay.....maybe because they see so much fall from the sky

 

Yes she is. They require 2 months notice. Notice will be going out in January.

 

Is that the case with end of lease termination?

 

Yes In Queensland

 

they are still under lease so isn't it 30+3 for notice of termination at the end of the lease?

 

The professional renter would just submit their own bond release upon vacating.

 

If in lease period in NSW yes it is 30 days

 

Someone on the box on weekend was talking about changing system so renters can't be made too leave at end of lease.....did not catch who or what state this is being floated....