Tenant Information

If you are a tenant renting a property, whether to live in or use as a business while you use our services under the terms of our Customer Contract, you are not a direct customer of Hunter Water Corporation.

We send all water accounts to the property owner or managing agent.

A tenant is usually responsible for paying the usage component of the water account, but this depends on the lease conditions.

In 1996 the High Court ruled that tenants would be responsible for both water and sewer usage. This condition is not applied by Hunter Water - it is part of the Residential Tenancy Act and is therefore an issue that should be covered in your lease conditions.

If you are a tenant and your landlord has missed an account payment, reminder and subsequent notices will be sent to both the owner and the property address.  Tenants should check these notices and discuss the account with the owner or managing agent.  Tenants can also contact us regarding their concerns about the account and we may allow a short extension of time to assist you in contacting the property owner or managing agent. We will not take further action during this agreed period. The Hunter Water Act also allows tenants, in certain circumstances, to pay Hunter Water the amount due on the property and then deduct that amount from rent payable to the property owner.

If no suitable arrangements are made to pay the amount owed, we may restrict or disconnect services and begin debt recovery action. In such cases, we will notify the property owner and ensure notice is given at the property address of the actions to be taken.

Commercial tenants

Most commercial tenants are responsible for paying the total water account (service and usage charges). However, this depends on the lease agreement with the property owner/managing agent.

Special water meter reading

When tenants change – when one tenant moves out and another moves in - the water supply is not disconnected.

The landlord (property owner) or managing agent should read the water meter to calculate the correct amount owed by each tenant.

The property owner or their agent can request Hunter Water to perform a special meter read. There is a fee charged for this service, and Hunter Water requires at least 2 business days..

Disputes over water use

If you are concerned about the amount of water use you have paid or any other matter relating to your tenancy, you should contact the landlord or managing agent, rather than Hunter Water.
If you can’t resolve a payment issue, you should contact either:

• the Department of Fair Trading (133 220); or
• the Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal (1300 135 399).