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You're buying a business. Congratulations!

Unlike other utilities we don't disconnect water and sewerage services when a business or commercial property changes hands, so you won't need to call us to reconnect or set up an account. Our services will be up and running when you take over.

We want to make things as easy and hassle free as possible. Read on for everything you need to know about the buying process with Unitywater.

Step 1: Your conveyancer should request a Water Search Certificate

We recommend that your conveyancer requests a Water Search Certificate. The Water Search identifies the balance on the seller’s Unitywater account, including any credits or outstanding water and sewerage charges: 

  • If the property's account is in debit (i.e. has outstanding charges owing), the calculator will determine what the seller will owe you up to the settlement date.
  • If the property's account is in credit, the calculator will determine what you owe the seller at settlement.

This is important because the balance of the account will transfer to you and become your responsibility as the new property owner. 

If you are not using a conveyancer, we still recommend you request a Water Search Certificate. 

More about Water Search Certificates

Step 2: Trade waste requirements 

1. A Trade Waste Search is recommended if you are buying or starting a business which generates, or may generate, trade waste.  

Trade waste includes liquid waste such as grease, oils and chemicals. 

2. A Trade Waste Permit is also required if you are purchasing or starting a business that produces trade waste.

3. Some form of pre-treatment will be required if you own a business that generates trade waste.

 

More about Trade Waste

Step 3: After settlement process

Once settlement is complete and you become the new property owner, the water and sewerage account will automatically transfer to you. This will happen when Unitywater receives official notification of the land transfer from the Queensland Government (Titles Office), typically 4-8 weeks after settlement.

We will then issue the next bill due in your property's quarterly billing cycle, which will be sent to you as the new owner of the property. You can also register for online services and e-billing in My Account.

Get started online in My Account

Step 4: Your first bill 

Outstanding charges on your first bill

When the property settlement occurs, we do not send a final bill to the seller. Instead, we continue with the property’s existing meter reading and billing cycle and simply issue the next bill to you. This means your first bill will likely include some of the seller’s charges from the time before you owned the property.

Don't worry, these outstanding charges should've been taken care of by your conveyancer during settlement, where any outstanding water and sewerage charges are paid by the seller through the settlement process. This will show on your first Unitywater bill as a ‘Property Settlement Payment’ or be reflected in your settlement arrangement by another means. 

It’s important to note that if there are any outstanding charges at the time of settlement, they’ll become your responsibility as the new property owner. Your conveyancer will be able to provide further information.

Vacant land

If you've bought vacant land, you'll receive a quarterly bill for fixed access charges even if there is no meter currently installed. Read more about access charges. 

Your first bill explained

Buyer FAQs

No. If you're an existing Unitywater customer who is registered for e-billing, we do not automatically transfer this to your new property. If you want to continue to receive bills by email or SMS, you will need to set this up for your new property on the ‘My Details’ page in My Account.

If you’re already registered for My Account, you can continue to use your existing login details. Your new property and account details should appear in My Account when you next login. If your new property is not showing, please contact our Customer Service team and they will set it up for you in My Account.

If your not registered for My Account, your Welcome Pack will provide the details you need to log in and register.

You may not have received a bill yet due to delays in us receiving the official notification of the change of ownership from the Queensland Government. Typically this takes 4-8 weeks. When we receive formal notification, we will issue your first bill.  

As the new owner of the property, you will be responsible for paying this bill in full. As part of the settlement process, we recommend that your conveyancer requests a Unitywater Water Search, which is used to determine how much the previous owner needs to pay as part of the settlement process. This settlement adjustment may be listed on your bill as a ‘Property Settlement Payment’ or be reflected in your settlement arrangement by another means. Your conveyancer will be able to provide more information.

All of the water meters in your area are read on the same day. This date is likely to differ from the date you bought the property. This means your first bill will likely include charges that date back before settlement occurred.

As part of the settlement process, we recommend that your conveyancer requests a Unitywater Water Search, which is used to determine how much the previous owner needs to pay as part of the settlement process. This settlement adjustment may be listed on your bill as a ‘Property Settlement Payment’ or be reflected in your settlement arrangement by another means. Your conveyancer will be able to provide more information.

As part of the settlement process, we recommend that your conveyancer requests a Unitywater Water Search.  The Water Search Certificate provides a summary of the balance of the previous owner’s account at the time of the request. Your conveyancer uses this information to determine what adjustments needs to be completed as part of the settlement process. Your conveyancer will be able to provide more information on how this is calculated.

Water and sewerage cannot be billed directly to tenants.  All Unitywater bills are raised in the property owner’s name and billed to the property owner.  Find out more on our landlords and tenants page.


Handy links

Trade Waste PermitsPricing, fees and chargesSign up for a paperless billWays to pay your bill
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