Water Meter Final Reading

Can anyone answer these questions?

How long after a tenant has vacated a property should the final water reading be done?

Should the meter reading be on the property condition report?

Can a tenant dispute paying some/all of the bill if the final reading on the bills is weeks old?

 

Seems pretty reasonable that the tenant could tell you to "stick it" if you only read the meter a month or two after their departure.

Should be read on departure report (with photo of meter) and the property report seems a sensible place to record it.

 

Meter reading & dated photo on day of vacating (or next day).

Yes, you have no control over usage after you vacate, the property may have been used to run the local Scouts car wash.

Usage should be reduced pro-rata from the day of vacation.

 

I would think the exit meter reading should be taken at the exit inspection, which is to occur within 3 business days of vacate in QLD- not sure about other states.

Has the property been vacant over the weeks between the vacate and the reading? I think you could reasonably assume there was no or negligible use there, but some tribunal members might seek to punish you there for the sake of the slackness.

 

Lessor/Agent has 3 days to conduct exit inspection, tenant actually has primary obligation to submit exit condition report on handback at end of tenancy, onus is also on them to take a meter read otherwise they're foregoing their option to record their own evidence and rely on disputing yours if they disagree.

If water charging is applicable to the tenancy then yes it should definitely be on the entry condition report and substantiated with a date and time stamped photo.

Yes, but you can counter-sue/argue the claim with a reasonable compromise sightly in their favour if all your other boxes are ticked by way of defining their likely consumption for a known period of time and simply waiving the unknown portion based off that calculation - something for xCAT to consider as opposed to one or both parties just pulling a figure out of thing air. (albeit most likely for peanuts probably not even worth the time and effort involved unfortunately - always best to simply do the job right the first time)

 

Tom, in Vic not an issue as usage (Not service charges) is billed directly to the tenant. So the issue is between tenant and water co for reading at move out date.
Much easier set-up for all, but I understand (To he corrected) Vic is the only state that does this.