2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
Just me - THANKYOU. You saved me a lot of typing there.
Limeslice - I am paying for my own life, like an adult. I don't think you're getting my point but that's ok with me! It's hard when the laws differ state to state. Our rent is 420 p.w. Water was always included in this amt, which is why it's so high.
Why are we talking about break and enters anyway? I'm confuzzled.
Registered User
I do understand your point. Quite clearly.
And it is the same in WA - the bills are covered by the tenant, but the WATER bill is sent to the OWNER of the property, it is then forwarded to the tenant to be REIMBURSED. It used to be that water was paid by the OWNER.
What I am saying, is that moving forward, as you will now be liable for "a reasonable amount" of the water usage bill, that "a reasonable amount" SHOULD be ALL of the usage. It is nobody else's responsibility to pay for your showers, washing and garden. So when you asked how to come to that "reasonable" amount, I am suggesting to you that there should be no question - it is all your responsibility, regardless of laws and fittings and other BS - you use it, you pay it. I am not sure how in good conscience you could make an argument for the landlord to cover YOUR living expenses.
Whether or not you had to do it in the past is irrelevant.
2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
I don't think you do, hun.
Our rent has been set at a higher rate to cover costs such as these. That's how it's always been done in QLD (in my 8 yrs of renting anyway...). So, it's not like everyone in QLD who rents a property is getting free water. It's just done differently here.... and that's that.
I don't really think it's fair to disregard 'laws and fittings and other BS'. The RTA makes the rules, and we follow them. Personally I think it's a bit messy and would have been happy to agree to reimburse the lessor for water usage rather than pay a higher rate of rent. BUT this is how it's been done, and thought that I could trust a legal contract such as a lease.
I'm not saying I shouldn't be responsible for my own utilities. I'm not expecting the landlord to cover my living expenses. As I've said multiple times, it's part of the rent amt. Also, I'll just repeat: is everyone in QLD who rents getting free water? No. As for being responsible for any consumption in future, actually, I'm not. UNTIL we have an agreement in place stating that this is what's expected, and I've signed it. In conjunction with my agreement, the lessor needs to comply with the water efficiency standards. If he doesn't want to do this, then we won't be paying huge water bills because of his unwillingness to improve his property. As Just Me said, the laws are there to protect both parties.
I also don't think it's irrelevant whether or not I've had to pay water (as a separate bill) in the past. My whole point here was that we were shocked by being slogged an extra bill, with no warning. I think it's unfair to do that to us. I don't think it's unfair to ask us to pay water in addition to our high weekly rent (although my wallet disagrees). But is IS unfair, and unlawful for them to present me with an account and give me 14 days to pay it, no explaination, nothing.
I hope none of that came across as narky, as I've been accused of it in the past. I just don't think you're understanding my point. I am totally happy to cover the cost. What I am NOT happy about is the lack of communication and their expectation that I will just fork out the money without a second thought. The whole point of leases etc are so that everyone knows their rights and obligations. When your contract states that water usage and sewage etc will be paid by the landlord, that's what you expect to happen! And if there's been a change, I expect to be notified in due time. That's all.
I don't think I can make it much clearer. I'll shut up now before I offend someone.
Registered User
lol I KNOW you are unhappy with the way it has been done. I GET IT.
I am talking about a moral point of view - you SHOULD WANT to cover all your water usage REGARDLESS of whether or not he has put in a water saving shower head. (Which as I said above, you can buy yourself and DIY) Why would you only do as much as you are required when you could be doing what you SHOULD?
That's all. If you want to do the bare minimum because that is all someone said is required of you, that that is fine too. You just asked the question how do you come to an agreement about the reasonable amount, and IMO, I gave an answer that you should just cover all of it.
The conversation moved on from your initial post of "I'm cut about the way it was done, how rude" to "Right, going forward, how do we deal". The latter is what I answered.
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