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 4.15
SBS FirstHome Combo 4.29
ICBC 4.49
Kainga Ora 4.59
SBS Bank Special 4.69
AIA - Go Home Loans 4.75
China Construction Bank 4.85
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 4.89
Kiwibank Special 4.95
TSB Special 4.99
Westpac Special 4.99
China Construction Bank 4.95
Kainga Ora 4.95
ICBC 4.99
SBS Bank Special 5.29
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 5.29
Kiwibank Special 5.39
ASB Bank 5.45
Westpac Special 5.45
BNZ - Std 5.45
AIA - Go Home Loans 5.45
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 5.45
SBS Bank Special 5.49
BNZ - Std 5.49
Westpac Special 5.49
ASB Bank 5.59
AIA - Go Home Loans 5.59
ICBC 5.65
Kiwibank Special 5.69
Kainga Ora 5.69
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 5.89
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 5.99
TSB Special 5.99
SBS FirstHome Combo 3.29
AIA - Back My Build 3.34
SBS Construction lending for FHB 3.74
CFML 321 Loans 4.20
Co-operative Bank - Standard 5.34
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 5.34
ICBC 5.39
Kainga Ora 5.79
Heartland Bank - Online 5.80
SBS Bank 5.84
Pepper Money Prime 5.99