Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Residential Tenancies Act 1997 - SECT 53

Landlord's liability for various utility charges

53. Landlord's liability for various utility charges



(1) A landlord is liable for-

   (a)  the installation costs and charges in respect of the initial
        connection to rented premises of any electricity, water, gas, bottled
        gas or oil supply service;

   (b)  all charges in respect of the supply or use of electricity, gas
        (except bottled gas) or oil by the tenant at rented premises that are
        not separately metered;

   (c)  all charges arising from a water supply service to separately metered
        rented premises that are not based on the amount of water supplied to
        the premises;

   (d)  all costs and charges related to a water supply service to and water
        supplied to rented premises that are not separately metered;

   (e)  all sewerage disposal charges in respect of rented premises that are
        not separately metered imposed by the holder of a water and sewerage
        licence issued under Division 1 of Part 2 of the
        Water Industry Act 1994;

   (f)  all charges related to the supply of sewerage services or the supply
        or use of drainage services to or at the rented premises;

   (g)  all charges related to the supply or hire of gas bottles to the rented
        premises.

(2) A landlord may agree to take over liability for any cost or charge for
which the tenant is liable under section 52.

(3) An agreement under subsection (2) must be in writing and be signed by the
landlord.