Water usage and dual occ granny flat

Discussion in 'Property Management' started by Acer, 3rd Jun, 2017.

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  1. Acer

    Acer Member

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    Hi everyone, can the agent issue a split excess water use bill to a dual occ rental? The property consists 2 separate dwellings, 3 bed house and 2 bedroom granny flat.

    Property located in NSW.

    Our understanding esch dwelling must be individual metered otherwise the owner must carry costs?

    Thanks for any feedback
     
  2. Tanya1335

    Tanya1335 Well-Known Member

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    You are correct, the dwellings must be individually metered and water efficient to pass the water usage onto a tenant.
     
  3. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    There is no such thing as excess water usage in NSW, there is only water usage.

    If you have a gf which is not separately metered, then the tenant has a free kick to waste as much water as they like.

    Get a check meter installed asap to prevent further issues.
     
  4. Acer

    Acer Member

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    Thanks for the replies. Just to clarify, my sin is a tenant in front house, and the granny flat has another tenant. The property is owned by landlord who does not reside onsite. Can landlord pass on water usage to either tenant?
     
  5. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    Each property needs its own meter or a check meter. Water authority won't read this meter so you/your pm will need to read it and adjust the bills accordingly.
     
  6. 8650

    8650 Well-Known Member

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    They cannot charge you water unless there are individual metres for both dwellings. If not the owner must absorb the cost of the water consumption
     
    Tanya1335 likes this.
  7. Holidays forever

    Holidays forever New Member

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    Yes, I have a dual property. House and granny flat set up. One water meter.
    So I cannot pass on the water usage to any tenants nor get them to pay a percentage.
    And they are using a fair bit so I intend to increase rents to cover cost.
    That is the only way around it.
    BUT with the electricity bill it is a whole another story.
    Even though on the one meter (electricity) I can get the tenant in the house to pay a section of the electricity bill.
    RTA are great to ring and are very user friendly and give out very clear advice.
     
  8. dabbler

    dabbler Well-Known Member

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    ^^^^^^^^^^^
     
  9. property_geek

    property_geek Well-Known Member

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    My property manager says both meters have to be installed by sydney water so that each receive separate bill. Otherwise tenants are not liable to pay.
    Looking at this link , It says, The law defines “separately metered” as having a meter that: "enables a separate bill to be issued."

    This means a check meter can not solve the problem.

    Do you have an authentic link that says, check meter can be used that property manager can read and charge tenants even if there is no separate bill from water authority?
     
  10. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    If the law has a definition, surely that is what the answer is?
     
  11. Marg4000

    Marg4000 Well-Known Member

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    The post you are quoting is nearly 3 years old.
    And may apply to a different state.
    @wylie has given a good answer.
     
  12. property_geek

    property_geek Well-Known Member

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    It doesn't say bill has to be issued by water authority. Plus following statement be interpreted in different ways.
    "The law defines “separately metered” as having a meter that: "enables a separate bill to be issued."

    If PM reads the check meter and issues a bill to tenants. Can it be considered a valid bill?

    Property is in NSW. I am wondering what the current law is in relation to this.
     
  13. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    Can you ask your property manager to show you the link or legislation that backs up his statement. That might give you a definite answer.
     
  14. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    This may be a shade old but is Sydney Water's policy.

    Linky

    The downside is, you will also get 2 lots of services charges
     
  15. Hayley Cannon

    Hayley Cannon Well-Known Member

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    I have spoken to the office of fair trading so many times about this as i believe it is open for interpretation. After attending a webinar it has beeb concluded that the seperate bill must be issued from the provider eg Sydney Water
     
  16. property_geek

    property_geek Well-Known Member

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    I have got fair bit of clarity on this topic.
    So the solution is to have a new Sydney Water meter installed. The cost of plumbing (digging trenches, laying out the pipe from main meter to granny flat etc) is the responsibility of owner and SW will provide and install the meter for free under their "Tap In" program.

    Owner will receive one bill. Front of bill will show total usage and the back of bill there will separate usage for both meters.
    There will be be only one service charge for the whole property(house + granny)

    SW says it is fully compliant meaning tenants can be charged water usage based on amounts written at the back of the bill.
     
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