In WA, landlords can charge renters for water they use if the tenancy agreement and the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA) allow it. Landlords must pay water rates and supply charges.
If one meter serves several homes, the tenancy agreement must state in writing how the renter’s share is calculated. Check the method before signing, and ask for the bill and calculation when charged.
Water charges landlords can pass on
A renter is responsible for a charge for water consumed at the premises, subject to the legal notice requirements. The landlord cannot pass on water rates, supply charges or administration fees as the renter’s water use.
For a metered charge, the written notice must show the relevant meter reading or readings and the charge per unit. For an unmetered charge, it must use the alternative calculation method agreed in writing. The notice must also include account details and the GST amount.
Consumer Protection WA says the landlord or agent should give notice within 30 days of receiving the bill. If a bill arrives around or after the tenancy ends, the final notice should be provided as soon as practicable. Check the notice against the agreement and ask for a corrected breakdown if it includes charges other than your consumption.
When the meter is shared
A shared meter measures water used by more than one property. If your home is not separately metered, the agreement must state in writing how your consumption charge will be calculated. A share of the provider’s bill alone does not establish your charge.
Water Corporation says that, for residential properties on a common supply, it generally reads the shared meter every two months and bills the strata or property manager for total use. That is Water Corporation’s billing arrangement, not a rule that sets a renter’s liability. The tenancy agreement and the evidence for your particular charge still matter. Water Corporation’s process also applies only to properties it services.
Ask how the calculation deals with water used in shared areas, such as gardens or facilities. Consumer Protection WA says strata common-area water charges cannot be passed on as a tenant’s consumption. A submeter, which measures water for an individual home, can help identify that home’s use, but it does not automatically make every shared cost chargeable to the renter.
What to check before signing
The prescribed WA residential tenancy agreement asks whether the property is connected to scheme water, whether it is separately metered, and what percentage of scheme-water consumption the tenant must pay. If the home is not separately metered, the form provides for a written calculation method.
Check that the relevant fields are completed and that the method explains how your share will be worked out. A verbal explanation or a clause that merely says you pay “water” does not set out the required calculation for an unmetered charge. Also check that the method excludes water rates, supply charges and shared-area use.
The agreement also asks whether you have the lessor’s permission to contact the water services provider about usage accounts, concessions and supply faults. Check this if you expect to deal directly with the provider. Water Corporation allows tenant billing arrangements in some circumstances, but the property owner remains liable for any outstanding balance on its account.
If the property is not connected to scheme water, the agreement may say that you must buy water yourself. Buying water yourself is a separate arrangement from a scheme-water usage bill. Check what supply the property provides and how the agreement handles any cost.
How to check a water bill
Record the meter reading at the start and end of the tenancy, and keep a copy of the agreement and any water notices. When a charge arrives, compare its dates and readings with your tenancy, then check the per-unit rate or written shared-meter calculation. If the bill covers a whole complex, ask for a breakdown that separates your consumption from common-area use and other charges.
A special meter read can help establish usage when a tenancy starts or ends. Water Corporation says it charges for a special read but does not state a fee on its tenant information page, so ask the provider for the current charge before requesting one.
