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Please note: we do not offer interim meter reads or statements when tenants move out of a property. For advice on what to do when a tenant moves out and any enquiries relating to water charges please refer to the Residential Tenancies Authority. 

If you are moving in or out of a rental property, you don't need to let us know. We don't disconnect our water and sewerage services, so they will be up and running when you move in. For this reason Unitywater does not offer a service to carry out a special reading of the water meter at the end or beginning of a tenancy. 

The Residential Tenancies Authority oversees the legislation relating to tenants and renting, including the passing on of water and sewerage charges.  A summary of this information is provided below with more detailed information available on the Rental Tenancies Authority Water Charging page.

The Unitywater account for a property is always in the owner’s name as we do not bill tenants directly. If you’re renting a property and have questions about the property's water and sewerage charges, you’ll need to direct your questions to your real estate or landlord. 

Landlords 

As the owner of the property, you're responsible for managing the Unitywater account and paying for all water and sewerage charges. Landlords may charge tenants for water consumption (usage) as part of their tenancy agreement. For further information regarding water charging please refer to the Residential Tenancies Authority. 

We can’t provide any advice on the amount of water consumption to be included in a tenancy agreement because it is the landlord’s decision. As a general guide, the average water usage per person living in our service area is about 168 litres per day.

Meter reading notices are left in the letterbox every quarter. Tenants are encouraged to read the meter regularly and alert their landlord or agent to any unexplained increases in usage. 

Under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, tenants can only be charged for water usage if:

  • the rental property is individually metered
  • the rental property is water efficient; and
  • the tenancy agreement states the tenant must pay for water usage.

Tenants

If you’re moving in or out of a rental property, there’s no need to let us know as we don't disconnect water and sewerage services when a property changes hands.

As the property owner, your landlord is responsible for managing the Unitywater account for your property. If there are any issues with your water or sewerage service, you'll need to contact your landlord or real estate agent first.

Your tenancy agreement will provide details of who is responsible for the water costs. For further information regarding water charging please refer to the Residential Tenancies Authority. Under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, tenants can only be charged for water usage if:

  • the rental property is individually metered
  • the rental property is water efficient; and
  • the tenancy agreement states the tenant must pay for water usage.
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