Whether you can be charged for water depends on your tenancy agreement, the property’s meter and water-efficient fixtures. This page is a general guide for Queensland general tenancies. Check your agreement and contact your property manager if you are unsure about a particular bill.
A tenant may be charged for water consumption when the rental property is individually metered (or water is delivered by vehicle), the property meets the required water-efficiency standards, and the tenancy agreement says the tenant must pay water consumption charges. All of these requirements need to be met for the full consumption charge to be passed on.
If the property is not water efficient, the lessor is responsible for a reasonable amount of water use. Where the other requirements are met, a tenant may be responsible for water use above that reasonable amount. Ask your property manager how any amount has been calculated.
When the requirements are met, the tenant may be charged for water usage and the state bulk water charge shown on the bill. Fixed water or sewerage access charges and sewerage usage charges remain the lessor’s responsibility. A tenant cannot be charged more than the billable amount.
For a property to meet the relevant water-efficiency standards, these fixtures must meet the following limits:
These tap requirements do not apply to bath taps, outdoor taps, or taps supplying appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers. The RTA provides further detail about how water efficiency is assessed.
The water supplier bills the property owner or lessor, who remains responsible for paying the supplier. If you are required to pay water consumption separately, the property manager or owner must give you a copy of the water bill within 4 weeks of receiving it. Under current Queensland requirements, tenants generally have 4 weeks after receiving the bill copy to pay.
Check that the bill covers the correct property and billing period, and ask for an explanation of the calculation if anything is unclear. Keep a copy of the bill and your payment record. The amount passed on cannot exceed the billable water consumption amount allowed by the rules.
Water billing periods often do not match the start or end of a tenancy. Record the water meter reading in both the entry and exit condition reports, and keep dated photographs where possible. These records can help establish usage for a partial billing period and prevent disputes.
If a bill includes days outside your tenancy, ask the property manager for a clear calculation based on the relevant meter readings and billing rates. The rules for a partial billing period can depend on the dates and whether a reading was recorded in the condition report.
Start by asking your property manager for a copy of the water bill and a written breakdown of the amount being charged. If you cannot resolve the issue directly, the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) may be able to assist through its dispute-resolution service.
For current requirements and exceptions, visit the RTA water charging guide and the RTA water charging fact sheet.
This information is a general guide only and is not legal advice. Rules may differ for rooming accommodation, moveable dwellings and other tenancy types. Refer to the RTA for advice about your circumstances.