Check this on your lease before you move in. A few things that you need to know if you are going to be charged water usage:

• As a tenant you can only be charged for the metered amount of water that you use.

• The water meter must be read and the figure recorded on the Premises Condition Report that you fill in at the start of your tenancy. If this isn’t done, your landlord won’t be able to accurately separate your water usage from that of the previous tenant.

• If there is no individual meter for the premises you are renting, you can’t be charged for water usage.

• You are entitled to a photocopy of the water account before you pay each bill. It is important for you to know that as a tenant, under no circum- stances are you required to pay water connection fees. All water connection fees must be paid by the landlord or agent as it is their responsibility to provide these basic services to you, the tenant.