Just as tenants are responsible for the electricity they consume in a rental property, so too can they be made responsible for the water charges to the property. Generally, tenants can only be charged for water if the rental property is individually metered (or water is vehicle-delivered) and water efficient, and the tenancy agreement states that the tenant is responsible for water consumption. The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) guidelines (guide specific to QLD) are an excellent starting point for all landlords who don’t yet charge tenants for water consumption, as well as those who already are and want to ensure ongoing compliance.
How Landlords Can Pass the Water Efficiency Test
Drawing on those guidelines, here are three questions that landlords will need to ask themselves if they’re to get the Water Efficiency Compliance Certificate required to charge their tenants for water, and to demonstrate water efficiency should a dispute ever arise.
Was Your Water Meter Installed by A Licensed Plumber?
It’s an offence to have anyone other than a licensed plumber or Authority to install a water meter. For most landlords this won’t be a problem as it’s their local utility company which installs and upgrades water meters within the areas they service. However, if unlicensed repairs or any other work has been performed on the water meter since it was installed, this is an issue.
Is Each Property Individually Metered?
Most apartment buildings (body corporate and strata schemes) built before 1 January 2008 use the one water meter for the entire complex, so if your investment property is an older apartment built prior to this, chances are you don’t yet have an individual water meter (sub-meter) installed. Your body corporate can install sub-meters for each unit in the complex (and one for common areas) and enter into an agreement with the local council to read each meter. If you’re a body corporate member, this is something you can get a quote for and propose at the next meeting.
Does Your Plumbing Meet the Internal Water Flow and Flush Volume Standards?
Most Water Efficiency Test requirements relate to the internal water flow from taps and showerheads, and the flush volume for toilets. It’s important to note that taps for appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, etc.) and bathtubs are excluded from these requirements.
- Cold water taps and single mixer taps installed over a hand basin must be capped at a flow rate of 9 litres per minute. The flow rate of kitchen sinks, laundry troughs and showerheads must also be capped at 9 litres per minute.
- Toilet flush volume must be limited to 6.5 litres on full flush and 3.5 litres on half flush. Using a combined average of one full and four half flushes, the average flush volume should equal no more than 4 litres.
Contact O’Neill and Brown Plumbing Service to learn more about getting a Water Efficiency Certificate or arrange a time for our fully qualified and insured plumbers to check your water fixtures and meter. Call us today or fill out form for us to give you a call.