1. Home
  2. Business
  3. Buying or selling a business
  4. Selling a business or commercial property

Congratulations on the sale of your property!

Unlike other utilities, we don't switch off water and sewerage services when a property changes hands, so you don't need to call us to disconnect your services or close your account.

Our services will stay connected when you move out and the property's Unitywater account will automatically transfer to the new owner after settlement.

We don't send you a final bill for your charges up to the property's settlement date.  Instead, any outstanding charges or credits on your account should be taken care of in the settlement process, which is organised by your conveyancer.

To make your property settlement as smooth as possible, please read on to find out what will happen with your water and sewerage account between accepting an offer and the property changing hands.

Step 1: What to expect at settlement

As the property owner, you're responsible for Unitywater charges on your property up until the settlement date.

During the settlement process, we recommend that the buyer's conveyancer requests a Unitywater Water Search to determine the balance of your account at settlement, as this amount will transfer to the new owner.  This information is used to make an adjustment to your settlement payment to cover any amount owing or in credit.  Your conveyancer will be able to provide more information. 

 

More about Unitywater Water Search Certificates

Step 2: Cancel your payments

As soon as you agree to the sale of your property, you can stop making bill payments, even if you have a bill due. It's also important to:

  • cancel any recurring payments such as BPAY, direct debit or Smoothpay

  • clear the Payment Reference numbers from any bank accounts you have linked to this property.

If you accidentally make an extra payment, don't worry. Just let your conveyancer know so that they can include it in the settlement calculation, as any credit amounts on your account will transfer to the new owner's account at settlement.

Log in to My Account to cancel payments

Step 3: Update your contact details

Please update your Unitywater account with any changes to your contact details or mailing address so you don't miss any important information. The quickest and easiest way to do this is online using your current My Account login.

After your property sale, you will still be able to view your billing history for this property online through your current login to My Account. 
Log in to My Account to update your contact details

Step 4 - Cancel your trade waste permit (if applicable)

If you sell your business you will need to cancel your trade waste permit to ensure future trade waste fees are not applied.

The new owner is required to submit a new permit application in their own business name. 

Please note: There are no refunds or part refunds on any permit issued, and permits are not transferable. 

Cancellation of Trade Waste Permit (PDF 39KB)

Step 5: After settlement

Unitywater receives official change of ownership notification from the Queensland Government (Titles Office) approximately 4-8 weeks after settlement. We then transfer the Unitywater account for the property to the new owner.

Once the transfer is complete, you’ll still be able to view your billing history for this property online through your current login to My Account.

Seller FAQs

Please do not make any payments on this bill. You may have received a bill after settlement due to delays in the official change of ownership advice coming through from the Queensland Government.  Please do not pay this bill or send it back to us - it will be cancelled once the change of ownership notification is received.

This includes receiving reminder or overdue notices.  These are automated and will include instructions to ignore them if your property is being sold.


Please do not make payments during the settlement process, even if you have a payment plan in place. Any amounts owing should be paid as part of the property settlement. You may receive reminders from us about payments due as part of your payment plan. These letters are automated and will include instructions to ignore the request if your property is being sold.
If the sale of your property does not proceed to settlement, please let us know by contacting us.  You will also need to pay any outstanding bills or reinstate any payment plans you had in place. If you have a payment plan with us, you will need to recommence payments in accordance with this schedule immediately. You can set up a payment plan online via My Account, or by contacting us.

If you have made a payment before the property settlement process, you will need to call your conveyancer immediately to advise of this payment.  Your conveyancer should include this payment in the settlement calculations for your property, as this payment amount it will transfer to the new owner's account at settlement.  

If you have made a payment after the property settlement process, you will need to contact us as soon as possible so we can talk to you about our refund process.


During the settlement process, your conveyancer will arrange an adjustment to cover the credit balance of your account. This amount will be less any Unitywater charges up to the date of settlement, as these charges are payable by you.  After settlement, the balance of your Unitywater account will be transferred to the new owner's account. 
Back to top