Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 1994 (Qld), introduced on 1 April 2008, now allow lessors to pass on full water consumption costs to tenants in specific circumstances.

These changes may apply to your tenancy if:

1. Your premises are individually metered for water, or water is delivered to the premises by vehicle; and

2. Your premises are water efficient; and

3. Your tenancy agreement is either an ongoing periodic agreement, or you began a new fixed term agreement after 1 April 2008, and your agreement states you must pay for water consumption.

If premises have an individual water meter but are not water efficient, the lessor must continue to pay for a "reasonable" supply of water to the premises and you can only be asked to pay for water used above this reasonable amount.

Click on the link for Update - Changes to Water Charging Info Sheet