{"id":420413,"date":"2026-01-18T03:36:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T03:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/420413\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T03:36:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T03:36:13","slug":"aussie-landlords-unfair-regular-charge-to-tenant-exposed-refuse-payment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/420413\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussie landlord’s ‘unfair’ regular charge to tenant exposed: ‘Refuse payment’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to Yahoo’s weekly column where lawyers Alison and Jillian Barrett from Maurice Blackburn<\/a> tackle problems everyday Aussies face \u2014 whether it be consumer<\/a>, property<\/a>, money matters<\/a>, relationships<\/a> or work<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Question <\/p>\n

I rent a granny flat that doesn\u2019t have its own water meter, but my landlord<\/a> charges me for water usage every quarter. I have no way of knowing if I\u2019m being billed fairly or if I\u2019m paying for the main house\u2019s usage as well. I\u2019ve asked for clarification, but haven\u2019t received a clear answer. Should tenants be paying for water when there\u2019s no separate meter? And if the landlord can charge for water, how is a fair amount calculated in situations like this? I’m worried I’m paying more than my share.<\/p>\n

Answer<\/p>\n

This is a common issue for tenants in secondary dwellings like granny flats, and the answer depends on what your lease says and what the law allows.<\/p>\n

Across Australia, the rules are clear \u2014 tenants can only be charged for water usage if certain conditions are met.<\/p>\n

These typically include:<\/p>\n

The property is individually metered (or water is delivered by vehicle)<\/p>\n

The property meets water efficiency standards (e.g., taps and showerheads with a maximum flow rate of nine litres per minute, dual-flush toilets)<\/p>\n

The tenancy agreement explicitly states the tenant must pay for water usage.<\/p>\n

If any of these conditions aren\u2019t met, for example, if there\u2019s no separate meter, the landlord must cover water costs.<\/p>\n

Granny flats and shared meters<\/p>\n

When a granny flat shares a meter with the main house, things get complicated.<\/p>\n

Legally, landlords can\u2019t enforce water usage charges without a separate meter because they\u2019re not based on actual consumption.<\/p>\n

Do you have a matter you’d like us to weigh in on? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com and we might feature it next.<\/p>\n

\"Alison<\/p>\n

Alison and Jillian Barrett are Principal Lawyers at Australia’s leading plaintiff law firm, Maurice Blackburn.<\/p>\n

(William Gordon Photography)<\/p>\n

Some landlords try to negotiate a flat fee or split the bill by percentage, but unless this is clearly agreed in writing, tenants aren\u2019t obliged to pay.<\/p>\n

How is a fair amount calculated?<\/p>\n

If there is a sub-meter (not read by the water authority), landlords or agents must manually record readings and invoice tenants based on actual usage.<\/p>\n

Without a meter, any \u201cestimate\u201d is unenforceable under tenancy law.<\/p>\n

What can I do?<\/p>\n

Check your lease <\/p>\n

If it doesn\u2019t mention water charges (usage or service fees) or the property isn\u2019t separately metered, you can refuse payment.<\/p>\n

Request evidence<\/p>\n

Landlords must provide a copy of the water bill, meter readings or evidence of the method of calculating your portion of the charges within a reasonable period of time.<\/p>\n

Put your concerns in writing<\/p>\n

Write your landlord a letter clearly stating the issue, referencing the law, seeking an adjustment and providing an expected timeframe for their response, with notification that you will escalate your concerns to the tenancy authority if you do not receive a satisfactory response.<\/p>\n

Seek advice <\/p>\n

Contact your state\u2019s tenancy authority (e.g., Residential Tenancies Authority<\/a> in Queensland, Fair Trading in NSW<\/a> or Consumer Affairs in Victoria<\/a>) or a local Tenants\u2019 Union for guidance.<\/p>\n

Dispute resolution <\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t resolve the issue and the landlord insists on billing you for usage, it may breach tenancy laws.<\/p>\n

You can then lodge a dispute with the relevant tribunal in your State (eg. QCAT<\/a> in Queensland, NCAT<\/a> in NSW, VCAT<\/a> in Victoria) seeking an order declaring the charges unlawful and a refund for any amounts you have overpaid.<\/p>\n

In short, if your granny flat doesn\u2019t have its own water meter, you generally shouldn\u2019t be paying for water usage.<\/p>\n

Any fair calculation requires accurate measurement \u2014 and without that, the law is on your side.<\/p>\n

This information is general in nature and should not be regarded as specific legal advice. For legal advice on a specific situation, consult a qualified solicitor.<\/p>\n

The contents of this column reflect or are inspired by real-life experiences. Some details may be adapted.<\/p>\n

You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>