In Queensland, tenants can be charged for the water they use in a rental property if:
the property is individually metered (or water is delivered by vehicle), and
the property is water efficient, and
the tenancy agreement states the tenant must pay for water consumption
To be considered “water efficient”, the property must meet these standards:
Internal cold water taps, single mixer taps & showerheads have a maximum flow rate of 9 litres per minute
Toilets have a dual flush function not exceeding 6.5 litres on full flush and 3.5 litres on half flush and a maximum average flush volume of 4 litres (based on the average of 1 full flush and 4 half flushes)
Most modern houses are already considered water efficient. You need only keep the receipts, packaging, warranties, manuals, etc, to prove it. To eliminate any doubt, we can arrange for a plumber to provide a compliance certificate for around $100 (assuming it’s already compliant). That will typically be paid for in just the first quarter of water usage that we bill the tenant on your behalf. So yes, it’s definitely worth ensuring your property is considered water efficient!