What to do now
Official rules: Residential Tenancies Authority, Water charging. Keep paying rent. Free dispute help: RTA Dispute Resolution Service via Form 16. Check current residential tenancy fees on the QCAT fees page before you lodge.
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Check the four gates before you pay. Individually metered (or water delivered by vehicle)? Water efficient (see standards below)? Does the tenancy agreement say you pay for water consumption? Did the property manager or owner give you a copy of the water consumption bill within 4 weeks of receiving it from the supplier? If any gate fails, say so in writing and keep a copy.
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Check the bill lines. You can be charged water usage and state bulk water when the gates are met. You generally cannot be charged fixed water access, sewerage access, or sewerage usage. You cannot be charged more than the billable amount.
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Check the condition report and meter. Opening and exit meter readings should be on the entry or exit condition report so partial billing periods can be calculated fairly. Note leaks or non-efficient fixtures in writing.
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If the charge is invalid, reply in writing (email is fine). Cite the missing gate (for example no bill copy within 4 weeks, not water efficient, no agreement term, shared meter). Keep photos of fixtures and the meter if you can.
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If they insist, lodge a free Form 16 with the RTA. If RTA cannot resolve it, it issues a Notice of unresolved dispute and you can apply to QCAT. Check the live QCAT fee before you lodge. As at 1 July 2026, residential tenancy fees ranged from about $96.30 to $405.60 depending on the amount claimed ($119 if no amount is claimed). Confirm the live amount.
Worked example
Casey gets an agent email for $180 "water" with no supplier bill attached, six weeks after the billing date on a previous invoice the agent once forwarded. Casey replies the same day: under the RTA water-charging rules, a copy of the water consumption bill must be given within 4 weeks of the lessor receiving it, otherwise Casey does not have to pay. Casey also notes the bill includes a sewerage access line, which cannot be passed on. If instead the property had been individually metered, water efficient, the agreement said Casey pays, and a full supplier bill for usage only arrived within 4 weeks, Casey would have 4 weeks from receiving that copy to pay the usage amount.
When a lessor can pass on water consumption
Under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (Qld) and the RTA water charging page, for a general tenancy you can be charged full water consumption only if all of these are true:
- The premises are individually metered (or water is delivered by vehicle)
- The premises are water efficient
- The tenancy agreement states that you must pay for water consumption
- The property manager or owner gives you a copy of the water consumption bill within 4 weeks of receiving it from the service provider
You cannot be charged more than the billable amount. After you receive a valid copy, you have 4 weeks to pay.
Items on a typical bill (RTA table):
- State bulk water charge: yes, if the gates are met
- Water usage charges: yes, if the gates are met
- Sewerage usage (fixed or variable): no
- Fixed access charges (water access and sewerage access): no (lessor pays)
Water efficiency standards
The RTA treats a property as water efficient when:
- Internal cold water taps and single mixer taps over a hand basin, kitchen sink, or laundry trough: maximum 9 litres per minute
- Showerheads: maximum 9 litres per minute
- Toilets: dual flush not exceeding 6.5 L full / 3.5 L half, with a maximum average flush volume of 4 L (one full and four half flushes)
Bathtub taps, outdoor garden taps, and taps that only supply washing machines or dishwashers do not need to meet that tap standard for the property to count as water efficient. From 2005 onwards, look for a WELS rating of 3 stars or higher on products.
If the property is not water efficient but is individually metered and the agreement says you pay for water, the lessor must pay a reasonable amount of consumption, and you may only be required to pay excess water charges. Agree what "reasonable" means in writing as a special term if you can.
Partial billing and sub-meters
For partial billing periods (tenancy starts or ends mid-bill), the RTA expects an individually metered, water-efficient premises, a meter reading on the entry or exit condition report, and a reasonable estimate using the current rate on the consumption document. Missing meter readings on the condition report can undermine a partial claim.
If a sub-meter is read by the manager rather than the supplier, the manager must still pass the charges on within 4 weeks of receiving the original supplier bill. Miss that window and you generally do not have to pay.
Moveable dwelling and rooming agreements have a shorter gate list (individual meter, agreement says pay, bill copy within 4 weeks). Water efficiency is not in that shorter list on the RTA page. Confirm which agreement type you have.
Disputes, RTA, and QCAT
Write first. Keep paying rent. Lodge free Form 16 with the RTA Dispute Resolution Service. If unresolved, apply to QCAT with the Notice of unresolved dispute. Check the current fee on the QCAT fees page. Most people represent themselves.
For a suspected concealed leak and a huge bill, contact a licensed plumber and your water provider. Leak remission schemes may apply to the owner.
Where to get help
Residential Tenancies Authority: 1300 366 311
Water charging · Form 16
QCAT: 1300 753 228 · qcat.qld.gov.au · Fees
Tenants Queensland: tenantsqld.org.au · advice line details on their site