Extra water cost liability

Katie asks:
(updated on Friday, September 23rd 2016)

Usually our water bills are between $70-$120 per month. We had a toilet that was continuously running and I reported this to my landlord. I specified in my email that I was worried about this affecting water bills. It took over a month and some more emails until this was fixed. We have just received a bill for $400. $270 of it is wastewater. Who is liable for this?

Our Experts Answer:

It sounds like the excess water rates are due to the toilet cistern problem. You are required to pay for your water usage, but you shouldn’t be required to pay for water wastage if the extra costs are caused by the landlord’s slowness in fixing a toilet cistern. I suggest you average your previous water charges invoices and see what a normal usage is over the billing period, and offer that amount to the landlord. If he is wise, he will accept that amount and avoid a dispute.

Most Read

Unity First Home Buyer special 3.99
ICBC 4.25
SBS FirstHome Combo 4.29
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 4.35
TSB Special 4.39
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.45
ASB Bank 4.49
SBS Bank Special 4.49
Unity Special 4.49
Westpac Special 4.49
Kiwibank Special 4.49
Westpac Special 4.45
SBS Bank Special 4.49
BNZ - Std 4.49
Kiwibank Special 4.49
TSB Special 4.49
AIA - Go Home Loans 4.49
ASB Bank 4.49
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.49
ICBC 4.59
Wairarapa Building Society 4.59
Unity Special 4.65
SBS Bank Special 4.99
Westpac Special 4.99
ICBC 4.99
BNZ - Std 4.99
AIA - Go Home Loans 5.15
ASB Bank 5.15
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 5.19
ANZ 5.39
TSB Special 5.39
Kiwibank Special 5.39
Kainga Ora 5.49
SBS FirstHome Combo 3.29
AIA - Back My Build 3.34
SBS Construction lending for FHB 3.74
CFML 321 Loans 4.25
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.99
Co-operative Bank - Standard 4.99
Heartland Bank - Online 5.30
ICBC 5.39
Kiwibank - Offset 5.65
Kiwibank 5.65
ANZ 5.69