New Rule for Water Bills: Landlords Have Just 4 Weeks to Claim Usage

"The sunshine is free — but water’s a different story."

If you’ve got an investment property on the Sunshine Coast, there’s a quiet little change to Queensland legislation that could cost you if you’re not paying attention.

As of recently, owners now have just 4 weeks to submit a water usage bill if they want tenants to reimburse the cost. Wait too long, and it’s yours to pay — even if your tenant used every drop.

What's Changed

We know a few of our owners have a “stack it now, deal with it later” system when it comes to bills (and hey, fair enough — life’s busy). But under the updated rules, waiting for two or three bills to pile up just won’t fly anymore.

You’ve got 4 weeks from the date on the bill to pass it on. After that, your chance to claim it from the tenant disappears, no matter how much was used.

So What Should You Do?

The good news is: it’s an easy fix, and your property manager (especially if it’s us) can help.

Here’s the plan:

• Let us take this job off your plate, get Unity Water to send your water bills via email to us if you don’t already. (Send to bills@aurapropertysc.com.au) We will pay the entire bill for you and invoice the tenant for the usage.

• If you prefer to do it yourself, forward the bill to us the day they arrive — no waiting, no stacking.

• If you’re on paper bills, set a reminder in your phone every few weeks so they don’t go missing under last month’s Bunnings receipts.

Of course we prefer to handle this for you, it saves anything slipping through the cracks. If you have not already set this up, get in touch with us and let us save you the headaches and admin.

Remember... you’ve got 4 weeks from the date on the bill to pass it on. After that, your chance to claim it from the tenant disappears, no matter how much was used.

We’ve Got Your Back

As one of the most experienced teams in property management on the Sunshine Coast, we stay on top of the details so you don’t have to. But when the rules change — like this one — it’s worth a heads-up.

Whether you’re around the corner or managing your property from interstate, having a switched-on team makes all the difference.

We’re here to keep your investment running smoothly, legally, and without any surprise out-of-pocket costs.

Got a question about water bills or anything else property-related? Just give us a call. We’ll talk you through it — no jargon + no stress.

Want a quick chat?

Contact the Aura Property Management Team today.

Curious about how we help investors like you

Explore our Services.