Trav1 Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Hi All Just had our first water bill (we moved in 15/11/13), the real estate has sent us a "bill" which is just typed telling us period of usage and amount owed. First I find it strange it is not more "formal" and how do we know we are not being ripped off? They could charge anything! This brings me onto my second point, I was rather shocked that the bill is for $138!! There are only 2 of us, yes we are in a 4bed house but don't have a dishwasher or pool, apart from the usual showers, washing etc we are careful with water usage. Is this a high bill or am I being paranoid or is this average? Any advise would be appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibbs Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Depends what you are paying for. In a rental you shouldn't be paying the rates .. a few mates talked about this the other month. Average looked to be about $185 for rates/services, and about $50 in use. For 2 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlaunay Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 If it was me I'd be asking for a copy of the bill. Did you take a meter reading when you first moved in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossmoyne Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 As you are renting you should only be paying the water usage. Daughter who is renting gets a letter from the managing agent with a copy of the water bill attached so show how much she owes. I thought all landlords/managing agents should do this so you might want to investigate this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolac34 Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Seems high for only usage, I'd want to see a copy of the bill. We have a 4 bed house and no pool and no retic on for two of us came to $26 for usage for 2 months. This month we got our bill, 4 of us (parents are staying), retic on twice a week and we filled our 6,000 liter paddling pool twice (we didn't like the location) and our usage came to $127 Quite a jump! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutnudger Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 We are a family of 4 with a dishwasher but no pool. Our bill is $31.76 for 2 months and we used the washing machine nearly daily as I was washing cloth nappies in this time too. Our bill should come down as we are now nappy free!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liloharry Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Hi All Just had our first water bill (we moved in 15/11/13), the real estate has sent us a "bill" which is just typed telling us period of usage and amount owed. First I find it strange it is not more "formal" and how do we know we are not being ripped off? They could charge anything! This brings me onto my second point, I was rather shocked that the bill is for $138!! There are only 2 of us, yes we are in a 4bed house but don't have a dishwasher or pool, apart from the usual showers, washing etc we are careful with water usage. Is this a high bill or am I being paranoid or is this average? Any advise would be appreciated I think that's expensive and would ask to see the bill, also would be worth checking for a leak....turn everything off and see if your meter is still going round. Our bill was $71 for 3weeks & 4 days (just moved house) but we have a pool....which we had to top up twice, spa, dishwasher and a large plot to water, also we have those silly 'waterfall' taps and rain showers, they seem so wasteful of water. In our last house (4x2 with pool) we only spent $80 in 5 months on water. Luckily our landlord has agreed to pay a portion of our water usage as our grass & gardens are on the verge of death and they know we will be doing extra watering to get them looking nice again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfie Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Your rental agent should send you a copy of the bill showing the amount of water consumption and how much it costs. Mostly me here on my own 2 weeks out of 3 I dont skimp on water have a bath often as well as daily shower use dishwasher washing machine. Hand water garden as well and my bill is never over $21 per 2 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugsyburrell Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Just got our second water in four months for $115, this follows the $143......grrrrr!! Glad I read this post now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJT Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 We are a family of five and for three months had extra visitors and for six months it was $209, as the owner never billed us, even though I kept chasing him as I was beginning to worry that it was going to be a huge bill. We have just changed the system and they get a bill for the rates and we get a bill for the usage direct from the water company and last bill was $16.49 for one month and I use my washing machine at least twice a day, dishwasher twice a day and we all shower every day. Hope this helps but that amount does not seem right. And I also found out that our neighbour has been putting our retic on to water the roses on the drive, I never realised and it has not made a lot of difference to our bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liloharry Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Our last one was over $200 for 2 months, so glad our landlord paid half! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest6235 Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 There seems to be big differences between some of you, is it worth checking if there is a leak at the properties with the high bills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossmoyne Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 It also depends on the age of the water meter. We used to have incredibly small bills, but about 5 years ago the meter burst and flooded the street.... new meter now charges us more. The Water Corp Plumber told me when he changed the meter that the one that did a Niagra was over 30 years old and was so corroded he was surprised we even got a usage bill! We are all now much more water savvy of course! One tip is to make sure that all taps and loos are turned off and just check the water meter to make sure it isn't still ticking over. If it is you will have a leak somewhere. And just to warn you, if the leak is between the meter and the road, the Water Board will deal with it and pay all costs, but if the leak is between the meter and the house..... yep all costs are down to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give me a break! Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Retic is hot on water. Our bill was huge when keeping our landlords lawn alive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest6235 Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 What is Retic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abc Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Reticulation to water gardens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 What is Retic Many houses in Perth have a buried system that waters the garden from underneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest6235 Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Many houses in Perth have a buried system that waters the garden from underneath. Thanks for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trav1 Posted April 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Just a quick update on what has happened since, had another high bill of over 200 dollars for 2 months of water usage! So started watching the meter when flush was pulled, when hubby in shower etc and it was using what was expected, noted what it was when we went out came back hours later no change in meter reading. Now by then we had calculated according to our bill we were using 1800 litres a day!! One thing left to try, the retic, well it solved the mystery, it was using hundreds of litres a minute which was crazy as we had it on twice a day twice a week for 20 minutes a time!! So we knew something was wrong, spoke to real estate manager, who tried fobbing us off with its normal and other houses have similar bills, we knew it wasn't normal so stopped using the retic and bought a hosepipe with a sprinkler! Have that on for the same times we had retic on and everything included we have used around 8000 litres in 7 weeks! Next bill should be in soon so hoping for a lower one, given up with real estate manager they aren't interested and I can't be bothered to let them know its the retic leaking somewhere.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest6235 Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Some of the real estate companies sound like right cowboys....yeeehah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abc Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Some of the real estate companies sound like right cowboys....yeeehah Make that most estate agents everywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest6235 Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Make that most estate agents everywhere! Yes you are right, but admittedly after selling our house in readiness for our move we are now renting for the 1st time in Eng & our estate agents have sorted problems out quickly & fairly for us. A rarity I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abc Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Remember you're moving to WA which stands for wait awhile or wait ages! Lol ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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