Renting Utilities Service Supply and Usage Charges (Water, Electric, Gas)

MagicTsukai on 01/11/2022 - 17:58

I am currently renting and have been paying supply and usage charges for utilities.

An acquaintance told me that I did not have to pay supply charges and that the landlord should.
I don't think that's true but I just wanted to double check.

I've attached the relevant section of my rental contract below:
The TENANT must pay all charges in respect of the re-connection and consumption of water, electricity, gas, oil and telephone where
the rented premises is separately metered for these services.

I assume I am supposed to pay both supply and usage charges right?
Many thanks all.

Financial Electricity Energy Supply Gas Supply

Comments

  • randomusername2017 on 01/11/2022 - 18:08
    +2

    I am supposed to pay both supply and usage charges right

    Yes.

    • hmac on 01/11/2022 - 19:05
      +1

      yes except water is a little different

  • c64 on 01/11/2022 - 18:21
    +5

    for water it should only be consumption

    • MagicTsukai on 02/11/2022 - 10:46

      just checked my bills.
      Yup it seems to be only charging me for usage and sewage charge.
      No supply charge written.

  • Domingo on 01/11/2022 - 18:25
    +2

    Your friend is incorrect unless your property is not separately metered for utilities.

    Separate meter
    If the property has a separate meter the rental provider is responsible for the cost of:

    • Water supply services, excluding your water usage
    • Sewer and drainage services, excluding sewerage disposal charges
    • The initial supply or hire of gas bottles
    • Pumping out or cleaning sewage and septic tanks, unless this is needed because of damage caused by you
    • Water cartage charges for refilling fire-safety water tanks, and for drinking water unless related to your water usage [section 53, regulation 22]
      Note that regulations in brackets, such as [regulation 22], refer to regulations in Victoria’s Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021.

    No separate meter
    If there is no separate meter at the property, the rental provider is also responsible for:

    • Charges for the supply or use of electricity, gas (except bottled gas) or oil
    • Water charges, including all sewage disposal charges, and water supplied to the property with the supply service costs [section 53]

    Source: https://tenantsvic.org.au/advice/during-your-tenancy/utility…

    I lived in an apartment once where the gas was not separately metered, so I did not have to pay a gas bill. I imagine the body corp had some way of dividing it evenly amongst the owners. Regardless, I'm sure I still paid for it as part of my rent.

    • MagicTsukai on 02/11/2022 - 10:46

      i live in a townhouse so everything seems separate

  • Drakesy on 01/11/2022 - 19:02
    +2

    If you're on a strata, SOMETIMES they divvy up the water bills evenly across everyone.

    Power however you foot the whole bill
    Water you foot the whole bill

    Either way you still need to pay the supply charge.

    Paying for connection however might be a bit much, i'd rent a place expecting it to be connected.

  • AndyC1 on 01/11/2022 - 19:08
    +1

    What exact water and sewage are you paying for?

    You will be paying for all of the electricity charges, unless there is common meter for all of the apartments/units.
    You will be paying for all of the gas charges, unless there is common meter for all of the apartments/units.
    You will not be paying for oil, unless you are running a garage or oil refinery or something that consums oil, which in NOT normal in Australia.
    You will be paying for all of the NBN internet connections (this includes VOIP).
    You will be paying for all of your mobile phone calls when at the apartment/unit.
    You will have to pay for connection charges for electricity, gas & NBN, unless there is common meter for all of the apartments/units.

    This all assumes you are not in renting as part of a share accommodation and are instead renting an apartment/unit.

    • Domingo on 02/11/2022 - 11:15

      you mean not everyone is running a bootleg oil refinery in their backyard? I better go put a tarp over mine or something.

  • MagicTsukai on 02/11/2022 - 10:47

    Thanks for the responses all

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