Water usage charges for tenants in NSW

Enter the water bill to see the most a tenant can be charged for usage, with the conditions and time limits checked. Only have an amount and no bill? Start here.

Calculator

The water bill

Two usage lines on the bill? Use the total below.

Two prices on the bill, or a rebate?

Used instead of the price when filled in.

Where to find these on your bill
  • Bill period: the billing period printed on the bill, or the dates of the previous and current meter readings. Both dates are counted here; if your bill counts one day fewer, a split by days moves by one day's share.
  • Water used: the water usage line, in kilolitres (kL). The meter readings are usually beside it.
  • Usage price: the price per kL on that usage line. Skip the fixed service charges and any wastewater or sewerage lines: those stay with the landlord.
  • Two prices: if the usage line is split in two, for example because prices changed during the period, enter the total usage charge instead.
  • Issue date: the date the bill was issued, printed on the bill. The 3-month limit to ask starts from it.

Fill in the bill period, the water used and the price. Or open an example: 48 kL at $2.50, tenancy from 16 August.

What a landlord can pass on

The water account stays in the landlord's name. The landlord pays the fixed water service charge and every sewerage charge, except pumping out a septic tank. Only the water usage line can be passed on, and only up to what the supplier billed, less any usage rebate.

Landlords: ask in writing within 3 months of the date the bill was issued, with a copy of the bill's usage charges, even if the tenant has moved out.

When the tenancy covers part of a bill

With meter readings from the condition report, the tenant pays for their own kilolitres at the bill's average price. Without them, the charge is split by days, counting the first and last day. The rules set no method, so the days figure is an estimate. Amounts are rounded down to the cent.

Example

A bill from 1 July to 29 September (91 days) shows 48 kL at $2.50 a kL: $120.00 of usage. The tenancy started on 16 August, so 45 of the 91 days are the tenant's. By days, the most is $120.00 × 45 ÷ 91 = $59.34. If the condition report shows 1228 kL on 16 August and the bill ends at 1251 kL, the tenant used 23 of the 48 kL: $120.00 × 23 ÷ 48 = $57.50.

Questions

Do tenants pay for water in NSW?

Only for water usage, and only when the place has a meter the water supplier reads and bills (or has no mains water and gets water by truck), meets the water efficiency measures, and the tenant gets a copy of the bill or other evidence of the cost. The landlord must first ask within 3 months of the bill being issued and give at least 21 days to pay. The landlord pays the fixed water and sewerage service charges.

Can my landlord charge me for sewerage?

No. The landlord pays all charges for sewerage services, other than pump-out septic services, and all water charges other than usage. Only the water usage line on the bill can be passed on.

How long does my landlord have to ask?

The landlord or agent must first ask no later than 3 months after the water supplier issued the bill, or the tenant is not required to pay. A later reminder does not restart the clock. NSW Fair Trading says a landlord who asks within the 3 months can still recover the money later, for example from the bond. Payment is due no earlier than 21 days after the request.

I only have an amount, not the bill. Do I have to pay?

You must be given a copy of the part of the water supplier's bill that shows the charges, or other evidence of the cost of the water you used. Until you have one of these, you are not required to pay. Choose "No bill yet" above to print a letter asking for a copy.

I moved in halfway through a bill. What do I owe?

Only the water used during your tenancy. The meter reading should be on the condition report at the start and end of each tenancy; with it, the charge follows your actual use. The rules set no method for splitting a bill, so a split by days is only an estimate.

What counts as water efficient?

Kitchen sink and bathroom basin taps and all showerheads flow at no more than 9 litres a minute, every toilet is dual flush with at least a 3-star WELS rating (required since 23 March 2025), and leaking taps and toilets were fixed at the start of the tenancy and whenever these fittings are installed, repaired or upgraded. Fill a bucket from the tap for one minute: more than 9 litres fails.

The tenant is moving out before the bill arrives. What should a landlord do?

Note the meter reading on the condition report on the last day. When the bill comes, ask the former tenant in writing within 3 months of its issue date, with a copy of the bill's usage charges, and give at least 21 days to pay. NSW Fair Trading says a landlord who asks in time can still recover the money later, for example from the bond.

Should I pay while I dispute the charge?

NSW Fair Trading advises tenants to keep paying the usage charge until the dispute is settled, so they are not given a termination notice for non-payment. Raise it with the landlord or agent first, then NSW Fair Trading (13 32 20), or apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

I am in social housing. Does this apply?

Not in the same way. Social housing tenants pay water usage as set by the Department of Communities and Justice ministerial guidelines. Ask your housing provider for its water charging policy.

Rules as at 3 November 2026, from the standard residential tenancy agreement (clauses 10 to 13; Residential Tenancies Regulation 2019, Schedule 1; form updated 21 September 2026), which sets out section 39 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010, and NSW Fair Trading's water in rental properties and water efficiency pages (updated April 2026). Recovering money later: NSW Fair Trading fact sheet FTR74, Passing on water charges.

This is a calculator, not legal advice. For a dispute, contact NSW Fair Trading or your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service.