Yes in QLD water was covered up until recently, and not it isn't but only if the property meets certain regulations. Hope you get it all figured out ForShelby! I hate dealing with REs and landlords.
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Yes in QLD water was covered up until recently, and not it isn't but only if the property meets certain regulations. Hope you get it all figured out ForShelby! I hate dealing with REs and landlords.
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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.
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. :hiding:
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.
Yes I don't think damage not caused by you should be your responsibility as the tennant. If a storm knocked a branch through the window, it wouldn't be fair to expect the tennant to pay for the repair so how is a burglary any different?:
originally in Qld the water consumption was included in the council rates notice (well BBC ones at least, not 100% sure of GCCC), in the last few years it became a separate bill
you use the water, you pay for the water, simple as that, same as you use the gas/electricity you pay for it
A lot of complexes don't have individual water meters, so the total bill is split equally between the apartments in the complex.:
Youd can still have a shared meter on a house, JIC anyone thinks that it automatically means its seperate.
A gu at work is in this exact situation at the place hes moved in to today.
His LL has a jpint meter with 2 properties adjoining, and tried to say he would just divide it up and make him pay half.
He told the RE no way and the RE said he doesnt have to pay at all unless it can be seperately billed.
If its not in your lease, and youve never had to pay it before, then its tough luck for your LL. Too bad if they have to pay it, they should have thought about that when they were deciding on your contract. The RE has probably made a mistake and the LL is saying they (RE) have to pay for it because it was their error with the contract
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i think it should be if it is metered then the tenant pays the bill. if it is not a seperate meter the landlord pays. simple.
If the landlord states in you're lease they will pay, the rent is always going to be higher. if they now want u to pay and its obviously not stated in you're lease then ur rent should be lower.
Lol Limeslice.... let's never fight again! :hug:
You're right. I SHOULD ideally be paying for everything we use. Sadly, morals and means are clashing a bit. On top of the high weekly rent, I just can't afford the extra utility. Not when our electricity is $700 a quarter. For this exact reason, we're looking at our options and trying to find a cheaper rental. I can't in good conscience stay on here when I know we're struggling to afford it. And I don't want to fight with the LL about it. Of course, as BM said above- if they want to decrease the rent and have us pay water separately, that's just dandy.
For now though, I'm covered by our original agreement.... thankfully because our budget is stretched to the limit. I think we may have bitten off more than we can chew. Well, actually.... a lot of stuff has happened that we didn't plan on, which affected our finances. But that's another story, for another thread, for another day. :)
Thanks everyone for your input. I'll be sure to update with the conclusion of this epic tale. :)
lol :hug:
Hoping you and the landlord can come to a happy arrangement for you both x
Your post just reminded me topost about that, it wasn't so much a response to you. Sorry. I am a bit allover the place today :doh::
This is illegal in Victoria though, if they can't meter your water individually you don't have to pay for it:
Pandora, I'm pretty sure that's true in QLD too. The water usage might be split amongst apartments for owners, not to sure, but tenants can't be billed unless there is a separate meter.
Forshelby, have you looked into why your electricity bills are so high? $700 a quarter is a LOT of money for electricity, certainly more than you would expect from a small family.
I guess, you can put your concerns in writing to the real estate stating,
1. Your high electricity costs after insulation removed, with copies of the bills showing such, even talking to the electricity provider, sometimes they will come out and give you some advice and look at why the electricity usage is so high, then advise the owner of this so they can do maintenance if needed.
2. If you are now needed to pay for water usage then the rent will need to be recalculated to take this into account.
Good luck, I hope some changes can be made so you can stay in your current home as packign and moving is a big pain. xxx
id be re neogating a new lease with you're landlord/agent. if they want u to pay for the water then a decrease in rent is what u r asking for.
As for ur electic bill, u do not want to get me started on this as im going thru some BS with my own landlord who is lazy.
my gas bill was $500....but we do have ducted heating...