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Utilities in tenanted properties
Water
If the property has its own meter, the tenant must:
- pay for water consumption, and
- (in the Melbourne metropolitan area) sewage disposal, unless the landlord has agreed to pay these charges.
The landlord must pay all other charges related to water supply, although different rules may apply when a tank is the main source.
Any replacement by the landlord of water appliances, fittings and fixtures must meet minimum efficiency standards - otherwise, the landlord is responsible for water consumption charges.
For more information about water-efficient products and labelling schemes, visit the Australian Government’s Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Scheme website or call toll free on 1800 218 478.
Other utilities
- The landlord must pay all installation and initial connection costs for electricity, gas and oil supply. If there is a separate meter, the tenant must pay for all other charges, unless otherwise agreed. If there is no separate meter, the landlord must pay.
- Where bottled gas is provided, the landlord pays for the supply or hire of bottles and the tenant pays for the gas. A landlord must reimburse the tenant for the costs of any utilities for which the landlord is liable.
- The landlord must reimburse the tenant for any rates or taxes paid to a public authority that are not part of consumption charges for the service. However, the tenant may be responsible for these costs if their lease is for a fixed period of more than one year and the lease agreement states this.
- Director of Housing tenants may be charged separately for expenses such as heating and laundry.
Utilities in rooming houses
A rooming house owner can only charge a resident for electricity and gas if their room:
- has separate meters for these utilities, and
- is occupied exclusively by them.
The owner cannot charge the resident more than the utility provider charges them.
Utilities in caravan parks and on sites rented under site agreements
This information applies to:
- site owners and site tenants (who own a movable dwelling but rent the land it is on) under site agreements, and
- owners and residents in a caravan park.
'Separately metered' refers to meters that have been installed or approved by the relevant utility supplier.
Who has to pay what?
| Owner’s responsibility |
Resident or site tenant responsibility |
|
Installation costs and initial connection charges for supply of electricity, water, gas or bottled gas services to a site
If services are not separately metered, the costs of all services to a site
If services are separately metered:
- water supply service charges that are not based on how much water is supplied or used
- drainage and sewerage service charges that are not based on how much those services are used
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If services are separately metered, supply and usage charges for:
- electricity
- gas
- water (except for supply service charges that are not based on how much water is supplied or used)
- drainage and sewerage (except for supply and use charges that are not based on how much those services are used)
|
Reimbursement of utility charges
If a resident pays for any charges that should be the owner’s responsibility, the resident should provide a written request for payment (attached to a copy of the account and the receipt). The owner must reimburse the resident within 28 days of receiving their request.
Caravan park residents: we recommend you use the Notice to owner of caravan or caravan park (PDF, 2.5MB).
Site tenants: we recommend you use the Notice to part 4A site owner (PDF, 667KB).
If an owner pays for any charges that should be the resident responsibility, the owner should provide a written request for payment (attached to a copy of the account and the receipt). The resident must reimburse the owner within 28 days of receiving their request.
It is an offence for an owner to ask a resident to reimburse them for more than what the relevant utility supplier would have charged the resident or site tenant.
If a site tenant is required to reimburse a site owner for payment of separately metered services, details of the payment arrangements should be included in the site agreement.
Water efficiency in caravan parks
If a caravan park owner replaces water appliances, fittings and fixtures, these should meet minimum efficiency standards; otherwise, the owner is liable for the cost of water supplied to or used in the caravan.
For more information about water-efficient products and labelling schemes, visit the Australian Government’s Labelling Standards Scheme website.
Last updated: 01/05/2012