RentingOnRecord

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Utility charges

44 established claims - 4 refused by the grounding gate

Documented position24

What the body that runs or defines the thing says in its own documentation.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that when an existing hot water system permanently fails and cannot be repaired, a Victorian rental provider must replace it with an energy-efficient electric hot water system.

other
1 quote from 1 source
when an existing hot water system permanently fails and can't be repaired, rental providers must replace it with an energy-efficient electric hot water system.

Tenants Victoria states that Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria is a free service.

medium confidenceother
1 quote from 1 source
Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) is a free service that helps resolve rental disputes early, without needing to go to a formal hearing at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that, for utility charges, a renter in a Victorian rental property with its own water meter must pay…

  • for the water they use.
  • the sewage disposal charge.
other
1 quote from 1 source
If the property has its own meter, the renter must pay for the water they use, as well as the sewage disposal charge. This applies unless the rental provider (landlord) agrees to pay.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that the Victorian rental provider remains responsible for charges relating to the sewerage infrastructure connecting to the house.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The rental provider is still responsible for charges relating to the sewerage infrastructure connecting to the house.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that the Victorian rental provider must pay to have the electricity, gas or oil supply installed and connected.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The rental provider must pay to have the electricity, gas or oil supply installed and connected.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that where a Victorian rental property has its own meter for electricity, gas or oil the renter must pay all supply and usage costs unless the rental provider agrees to pay.

other
1 quote from 1 source
If the property has its own meter for electricity, gas or oil, the renter must pay all supply and usage costs, unless the rental provider agrees to pay. In that case, it should be in the rental agreement as a special condition. If the property doesn’t have its own meter, the rental provider must pay.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that where a Victorian rental property uses bottled gas the renter pays for the supply and hire of gas bottles.

other
1 quote from 1 source
If the property uses bottled gas the renter pays for the supply and hire of gas bottles.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that utility charges for phone and internet (the ongoing usage costs) must be paid by Victorian renters unless the rental provider agrees otherwise.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Renters must pay for the ongoing usage costs for phone and internet, unless the rental provider agrees otherwise.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that the Victorian rental provider must pay all costs and charges for the initial installation of phone or internet connections, including connection to the National Broadband Network.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The rental provider must pay all costs and charges for the initial installation of phone or internet connections. This includes connection to the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a Victorian rental provider only has to pay excessive usage charges if the…

  • renter notified the rental provider of the excessive usage charges and the fault as soon as possible.
  • renter did not cause the fault.
  • service provider is not responsible for the excessive usage charges.
other
4 quotes from 1 source
The rental provider only has to pay excessive usage charges if:
the renter notified the rental provider, as soon as possible, of the excessive charges and the fault that caused them
the renter didn’t cause the fault, and
the service provider isn’t responsible for the fault.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that Victorian rental providers must pay the ongoing utility costs until a broken or faulty appliance has been replaced with one that meets efficiency standards.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Rental providers must pay the ongoing utility costs until a broken or faulty appliance has been replaced with one that meets efficiency standards.

Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a Victorian rental provider must pay any utility costs after the previous renter moves out until a new renter moves in and the utilities companies have the new renter's billing details

other
1 quote from 1 source
Until a new renter moves in and the utilities companies have the new renter’s billing details, the rental provider must pay any utility costs after the previous renter moves out.

Consumer Affairs Victoria identifies sections 52, 53, 53AAA, 53A, 53B, 54, 55, 56 and 57 as the other charges provisions for residential rental agreements.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Sections 52, 53, 53AAA, 53A, 53B, 54, 55, 56, 57 – Other charges (residential rental agreements)

Tenants Victoria states that there is no minimum standard requiring Victorian rental properties to have a telephone line or the internet connected.

other
1 quote from 1 source
There is no minimum standard requiring rental properties to have a telephone line or the internet connected.

Tenants Victoria states that under an agreement about a solar energy system installed under the Victorian Solar Homes Program the renter can be made liable for some installation costs and charges.

other
1 quote from 1 source
If you want a solar energy system installed under the Victorian Solar Homes Program, you and the rental provider can enter into an agreement about this. However, unlike other initial connection costs, the agreement can set out that you will be liable for some installation costs and charges [section 53AA].

Tenants Victoria states that a Victorian rental provider has 28 days from receiving a request to reimburse a renter for utility costs that were the rental provider's responsibility.

other
2 quotes from 1 source
The rental provider has 28 days from the time they get your request to reimburse you [section 55].
If you have paid for any utility costs or charges that are the rental provider’s responsibility, the rental provider must reimburse you [section 55].

Tenants Victoria states that the amount of a service charge cannot be more than the cost of providing the service or facility.

other
1 quote from 1 source
If they want to do this, they need to give you written notice that there will be a service charge payable by you. The amount cannot be more than the cost of providing you with the service or facility [section 57].

Tenants Victoria states that a Victorian rental provider is liable to pay the cost of water, electricity or gas used at the property if a replacement appliance, fixture or fitting does not meet the required standards.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The rental provider is liable to pay the cost of water, electricity or gas supplied to or used at the property if the replacement appliance, fixture or fitting does not meet the required standards, even if these costs would usually be your responsibility [section 54].

Tenants Victoria states that…

  • a renter can negotiate an agreement for the Victorian rental provider to pay utility charges.
  • an agreement for the Victorian rental provider to pay utility charges must be in writing and signed by the rental provider.
other
2 quotes from 1 source
You can negotiate an agreement with the rental provider that they pay any of these charges.
You will need to get the agreement in writing, signed by the rental provider [section 53].

Practical effect3

What is observed to happen in practice, as distinct from what is documented.

Tenants Victoria states that Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria helps resolve rental disputes…

  • early.
  • without a formal VCAT hearing.
medium confidenceother
1 quote from 1 source
Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) is a free service that helps resolve rental disputes early, without needing to go to a formal hearing at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Tenants Victoria states that utility companies have special financial hardship teams that can work with renters having trouble paying their bills.

low confidenceother
1 quote from 1 source
Utility companies have special financial hardship teams that can work with you if you are having trouble paying your bills.

Changed on1

A dated change. This is where advice quietly stops being true.

New minimum energy efficiency standards for Victorian residential rental properties come into effect in phases from 1 March 2027.

other
1 quote from 1 source
New minimum energy efficiency standards for residential rental properties come into effect in phases from 1 March 2027.

Disputed between sources4

Sources that do not agree, presented without picking a winner.

  • Soho Real Estate states that the landlord takes care of the water when renting in Victoria.
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria states that where the property has its own meter the renter must pay for the water they use.
other
2 quotes from 2 sources
So who pays water rates when renting in Victoria? When renting in Victoria, your landlord takes care of the water.
If the property has its own meter, the renter must pay for the water they use, as well as the sewage disposal charge. This applies unless the rental provider (landlord) agrees to pay.
  • Soho Real Estate states that a renter must pay all the charges themselves including the water rates.
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria states that the rental provider must pay all other charges related to water supply and sewerage or drainage services.
medium confidenceother
2 quotes from 2 sources
If you live in a rental property, you must pay all the charges yourself, including the water rates.
The rental provider must pay all other charges related to water supply and sewerage or drainage services.

Repeated, with no primary source in reach12

Widely repeated in the field. Within the documents this sweep read, it traces only to other repetitions - which is a fact about our reading as well as about the idea, until each one has been searched for on its own.

Soho Real Estate asserts that when renting in Victoria the landlord takes care of the water.

other
1 quote from 1 source
So who pays water rates when renting in Victoria? When renting in Victoria, your landlord takes care of the water.

Soho Real Estate asserts that a person living in a rental property in Victoria must pay…

  • all the charges themselves.
  • the water rates.
other
1 quote from 1 source
If you live in a rental property, you must pay all the charges yourself, including the water rates.

Soho Real Estate asserts that landlords and tenants are both responsible for paying their respective bills.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Landlords and tenants are both responsible for paying their respective bills.

Soho Real Estate asserts that the landlord must provide water and electricity to each tenant.

other
1 quote from 1 source
The landlord must provide water and electricity to each tenant.

Marshall White asserts that Victorian rental providers are responsible for the initial connection charges for…

  • electricity.
  • water.
  • gas.
  • fixed internet connections.
  • fixed telecommunications connections.
other
1 quote from 1 source
Rental providers are responsible for the initial connection charges for utilities like electricity, water, gas (including bottled gas), and fixed internet and telecommunications connections, including through the NBN.

Marshall White asserts that where a Victorian rental property does not have a separate meter, the rental provider is responsible for the entire utility costs.

other
1 quote from 1 source
If the property does not have a separate meter, rental providers are responsible for the entire utility costs, including electricity, gas, and water.

Marshall White asserts that renters are responsible for connecting and disconnecting utilities in their name during their tenancy.

other
1 quote from 1 source
Renters are responsible for connecting and disconnecting utilities in their name during their tenancy.

Refused4

Claims the research produced that the grounding gate would not accept, with its reason. They are here because a site that only shows what passed gives you no way to judge whether the gate does anything.

Show what was refused

From 1 March 2027, utility charges changed, requiring Victorian rental providers to install water-efficient shower heads in all showers at the start of a new rental agreement.

Refused: The quote supports the shower-head requirement but does not state that utility charges changed.

Unsupported: utility charges changed

What it rested on
From 1 March 2027, rental providers must install water-efficient shower heads in all showers. This applies at the start of a new rental agreement, or when an existing agreement converts to a month-to-month agreement.

From 1 March 2027, utility charges changed, requiring Victorian rental providers to install water-efficient shower heads in all showers on conversion to a month-to-month agreement.

Refused: The quote establishes the shower head requirement and conversion trigger but never states that utility charges changed.

Unsupported: utility charges changed

What it rested on
From 1 March 2027, rental providers must install water-efficient shower heads in all showers. This applies at the start of a new rental agreement, or when an existing agreement converts to a month-to-month agreement.

Tenants Victoria states that a Victorian public or community housing provider must give written notice before charging a service charge.

Refused: The cited quote says 'they' must give written notice for a service charge but does not identify the provider as a Victorian public or community housing provider.

Unsupported: Victorian public or community housing provider

What it rested on
If they want to do this, they need to give you written notice that there will be a service charge payable by you. The amount cannot be more than the cost of providing you with the service or facility [section 57].

Tenants Victoria states that for gas space heaters and non-ducted air conditioners and heat pumps that replace existing items in a Victorian rental the minimum rating is a 2-star heating rating.

Refused: The cited quote states the minimum rating for those appliances but does not mention replacement or Victorian rental context.

Unsupported: that replace existing items in a Victorian rental

What it rested on
For gas space heaters and non-ducted air conditioners and heat pumps, which are not ducted through the whole house, the minimum rating is a 2-star heating rating [regulations 23 and 24].