A must-read for renting a house in Australia: A complete guide to calculating water bills and tips for saving water

Hello everyone, I am the assistant of Australian Encyclopedia. Recently, some friends asked me aboutHow to calculate water bills for renting a house in AustraliaAs a necessary knowledge for living in Australia, water fee calculation is directly related to the cost of renting a house and the protection of rights and interests. Today, I will take you to fully analyze the "hidden rules" of renting water fees in Australia from the bill structure, responsibility division to dispute resolution!

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### 1. The “three-tier structure” of Australia’s water bill
Australian water bills usually consist of three parts:
1. **Water Usage Charges**: Calculated based on actual water consumption (kiloliters/kL), the unit price varies by region (e.g. Sydney $2.35/kL, Melbourne $2.89/kL).
2. **Sewerage Charges**: mandatory collection by the government, accounting for 40%-60% of the bill, usually estimated based on the property value.
3. **Government Service Fees**: Fixed charges that cover infrastructure costs such as water pipe maintenance.

⚠️ Key tip: Tenants usually only need to pay for the actual water usage, while sewage treatment and government service fees are borne by the landlord (need to be clearly stated in the lease agreement).

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### 2. Tenants VS Landlords: Who should pay what?
According to the Residential Tenancies Act in each state:
| Fee Types| Landlord Responsibilities| Tenant Responsibilities |
|------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Non-shareable expenses| ✔️ Sewage treatment fee, government service fee| ❌ |
| Shareable expenses| ❌ | ✔️ Actual water usage costs (must meet two conditions) |

**Prerequisites for tenants to pay water bills**:
1. Individual Water Meter installed on the property
2. Meet **Water Efficiency**: All tap flow ≤ 9L/min, shower head ≤ 9L/min, and no water leakage

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### 3. Practical example of water fee calculation
**Case 1**: Quarterly bill for a two-bedroom apartment in Sydney
- Total water consumption: 12kL × $2.35 = $28.2
- Sewage treatment fee: $120 (paid by the landlord)
- Government service fee: $90 (paid by the landlord)
👉 Tenants only need to pay $28.2. If two people share the house, each person needs to pay $14.1 per quarter.

**Case 2**: Melbourne House incurred high water bills due to water leakage
- If the leak is inside the house (such as a broken faucet): the tenant is responsible for the cost
- If the leak is outside the house (such as underground pipes): the landlord is responsible

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### 4. Tips for saving water: save $500+ every year
1. **Shorten shower time**: Australians use an average of 76 litres of water per day in showers. Reducing shower time by one minute can save 10 litres of water
2. **Install water-saving equipment**:
- Install flow limiter on faucet ($5/each)
- Choose appliances with WELS 4-star rating or above (water-saving 30%-50%)
3. **Fix leaks**: A dripping tap wastes 26,000 litres of water per year, equivalent to $60
4. **Take advantage of government subsidies**: New South Wales offers a $200 water-saving renovation subsidy, and Victoria can apply for a free water audit

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### 5. Dispute Resolution Guide
**What should I do if my landlord charges me a high fee for water? **
1️⃣ **Check the contract**: Confirm whether the "separate water meter + water saving standard" is met
2️⃣ **Request a copy of the bill**: The landlord must provide the original bill (NSW Fair Trading regulations)
3️⃣ **Complain to the regulatory authorities**:
- NSW: NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)
- Victoria: Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)

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5 frequently asked questions about water bills in Australian rentals

**Q1: Is it reasonable to share the water bill among the people in a shared house? **
✅ Reasonable! Unless the contract states "allocated by room", it is assumed to be shared equally.

**Q2: What should I do if I don’t understand the water bill? **
👉 Log on to the official website of the local water authority (such as Sydney Water) to download the "Bill Interpretation Guide" or call the Chinese customer service hotline (Sydney: 1300 361 622).

**Q3: Will the deposit be deducted if the water bill is not settled when I move out? **
⚠️ Yes! It is recommended to take a photo of the water meter reading before moving out and sign for confirmation with the agent.

**Q4: Can the landlord increase the water fee without authorization? **
❌ No! Water charges must be calculated based on the official water authority price.

**Q5: Will overdue water bills affect my credit record? **
💡 If the bill is in the tenant's name and is overdue for more than 60 days, it will affect the credit score.

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Through this article, I believe everyoneHow to calculate water bills for renting a house in AustraliaWith a clear understanding. Remember, understanding the rules can not only avoid disputes, but also save nearly a thousand Australian dollars every year through scientific water conservation!

Thank you for your reading. I hope this article can help you understandCalculation of water bills for renting a house in AustraliaIf you have more questions, please leave a private message. We will continue to produce practical Australian life guides!