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Which bills am I supposed to pay?

44 quoted answers, each with its source

The short answer

In Victorian residential rentals, utility responsibility turns on whether the property has its own meter: where there is no separate meter, the rental provider pays the entire utility costs including electricity, gas and water; where the property has its own water meter, the renter must pay for the water they use and the sewage disposal charge unless the rental provider agrees to pay, and the rental provider remains responsible for charges relating to the sewerage infrastructure connecting to the house; where the property has its own electricity, gas or oil meter, the renter must pay all supply and usage costs unless the rental provider agrees to pay, and where bottled gas is used the renter pays for the supply and hire of gas bottles. The rental provider must pay to have the electricity, gas or oil supply installed and connected, and must pay the initial connection charges for electricity, water, gas including bottled gas, and phone and internet connections including the National Broadband Network, while renters must pay ongoing phone and internet usage costs unless the rental provider agrees otherwise; there is no minimum standard requiring a telephone line or internet connection, and a renter can negotiate an agreement for the rental provider to pay utility charges that is in writing and signed by the rental provider; an agreement about a solar energy system installed under the Victorian Solar Homes Program can make the renter liable for some installation costs and charges, unlike other initial connection costs. Rental providers must pay 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, must reimburse a renter within 28 days of receiving a request to reimburse for utility costs that were the rental provider's responsibility, and must pay ongoing utility costs until a broken or faulty appliance is replaced with one that meets efficiency standards; new minimum energy efficiency standards for Victorian residential rental properties come into effect in phases from 1 March 2027, and an existing hot water system that permanently fails and cannot be repaired must be replaced with an energy-efficient electric hot water system. Some published advice conflicts on water: Soho Real Estate says the landlord takes care of the water and also that the renter must pay all charges including the water rates, while Consumer Affairs Victoria states the renter must pay for water they use and sewage disposal where the property has its own meter.

Every part of this comes from the quotes below. How we write these.

What the rules actually say24

Quoted straight from Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Residential Tenancies Act or a tribunal.

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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.

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

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
The rental provider is still responsible for charges relating to the sewerage infrastructure connecting to the house.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria states that the Victorian rental provider must pay to have the electricity, gas or oil supply installed and connected.

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

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

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

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

first-party
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).
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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.
first-party
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.
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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.

first-party
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.
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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

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

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Sections 52, 53, 53AAA, 53A, 53B, 54, 55, 56, 57 – Other charges (residential rental agreements)
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Tenants Victoria states that Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria is a free service.

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

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

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].
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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.

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

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].
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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.

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].
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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.
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.

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

  • early.
  • without a formal VCAT hearing.
medium confidence
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).
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Tenants Victoria states that utility companies have special financial hardship teams that can work with renters having trouble paying their bills.

low confidence
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.

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

first-party
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.

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  • 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.
first-partyvendor
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.
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  • 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 confidencefirst-partyvendor
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.

Often said, but we could not find it in the rules12

Lots of people say this. We went looking for an official source that backs it up and could not find one, so treat it as something people repeat rather than something settled.

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

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

  • all the charges themselves.
  • the water rates.
vendor
1 quote from 1 source
If you live in a rental property, you must pay all the charges yourself, including the water rates.
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Soho Real Estate asserts that landlords and tenants are both responsible for paying their respective bills.

vendor
1 quote from 1 source
Landlords and tenants are both responsible for paying their respective bills.
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Soho Real Estate asserts that the landlord must provide water and electricity to each tenant.

vendor
1 quote from 1 source
The landlord must provide water and electricity to each tenant.
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Marshall White asserts that Victorian rental providers are responsible for the initial connection charges for…

  • electricity.
  • water.
  • gas.
  • fixed internet connections.
  • fixed telecommunications connections.
vendor
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.
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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.

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

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