The application fees for existing groundwater users who filed for a water license on or before March 1, 2022 were waived. Annual rentals will begin to accrue on February 29, 2016, regardless of when an application is made during the six-year transition period, which ended on March 1, 2022.
5. The water has spilled over onto my neighbor’s land. Why do I have to pay this bill?
It’s possible that the ‘point of diversion’ for the water you use is on your neighbor’s property. Regardless, you must have a license that reflects your access to the water from that source. If you believe your water licence has an error, please visit your local FrontCounter BC office or call FrontCounter BC.
FrontCounter BC has regional offices throughout the province.
6. The former landowner is responsible for the debt. What is the purpose of this bill?
The present landowner is responsible for any debt linked with a water licence under the Water Sustainability Act. Because the licensed rights and obligations (including rental payment) pass with the conveyance of the appurtenant land as provided in the Land Title, this is the case.
A seller is accountable for fully disclosing all information about the property they are selling. A buyer is accountable for learning everything they can about the item they want to buy. Settlement of a prior owner’s debt is solely between the buyer and the seller. The Water Management Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development has no involvement in this problem.
If you opt to keep the license that is related to your land, you must pay the remaining balance owed on the license in full or risk having your license revoked for non-payment.
If you choose to abandon the license, you will be accountable for the debt up until the date Water Management accepts your full abandonment application.
7. The water is unfit for human consumption. What’s the point of billing me?
Rentals are charged for the right to use the water, not for the actual use, according to the Water Sustainability Regulation. Water management does not promise that water will be available at all times, nor does it guarantee that the water will be of good quality. If you are not using the water to which you are entitled, you may want to consider canceling your license.
8. I take care of my financial obligations. Why is there a balance that is past due?
If a payment has not been received or recorded prior to your statement being sent out, if you have not made a full payment in the past, or if there have been additional charges applied to your account, an overdue amount will appear on your statement.
If you don’t pay for the previous year’s rentals until the current calendar year, your statement will show a “Balance” forward on the statement, with payment information (receipt #, date, etc.) in the body; the “Total Due/Credit” amount will reflect the net of all charges, payments, and adjustments on your account.
Any charges accrued since your last payment, such as those incurred as a result of a license amendment, will be shown in your account.
9. I don’t comprehend what you’re saying. What is the purpose of all these fees?
The following are the most prevalent charges:
a) A new license was issued as a result of an application:
- Additional application fees, such as the Permit Over Crown Land, may be required.
- To put your account in line with your billing group, you may be charged pro-rated first-year rentals plus additional rents.
b) An amendment has resulted in the issuance of a license:
- It’s possible that an amendment charge will be required.
- Rentals may be reduced for the time the license was being reviewed; and
- Rentals may be altered to account for a change in purpose or the amount of water permitted.
c) A license has been revoked, revoked, or revoked:
- It’s possible that an adjustment will be needed to demonstrate what was owed up to the license was no longer valid.
10. When I applied for my license, I had to pay an application fee. Why are you continuing to charge me for it?
There are various instances where the license issued differs from the one requested by the client. A charge is required for each individual water use purpose and Crown land use (Permit over Crown Land).
A Permit to Occupy Crown Land is the most common application cost that is not paid at the time of application. Although a domestic license application price was paid, regional water employees concluded that a permission over Crown territory was also required, which required a second application fee and license.
After the license has been issued, the required application fee is frequently levied to the account.
11. I just finished paying my bill. What makes you think you need to send me another statement?
You may have paid the balance on a previous statement that did not include the current charges, or you may have paid the balance on a previous statement that did not include the current charges.
12. Why does the volume of my water license on my water billing statement differ from the volume on my license?
The statement displays the amount of water in cubic meters. The volume is calculated by translating the volume (Imperial units were used previous to 2006) or area measure in our database to cubic metres, then rounding to four significant digits. This may cause a difference between the volume or area measure reported on your water billing statement and the volume or area measure shown on your water license or Permit over Crown Land.
Although the volume of water on the license and the volume of water on your billing statement may differ, there is no difference in the rental charge if the volume of water involved is modest.
Consider the following scenario:
For domestic usage, a water license of 2,200 litres per day (or 2.2 cubic metres per day) may be issued. The volume may have been recorded as 500 gallons per day in Water Management’s database. The metric conversion used to calculate the water rent will more precisely round 500 gallons per day to 2.273 cubic metres. The water rental, on the other hand, will remain the same, with a minimum of $50.00.
Call FrontCounter BC if you suspect your statement has a larger disparity or inaccuracy.
13. How is my water leasing charge calculated by Water Management?
Water license rents are calculated using a yearly volume (expressed in cubic metres per year), which is the entire amount of water you are allowed to use in a year. Permits over Crown Land, which authorize dam sites, activities, and flooding, are rented on a hectare-by-hectare basis.
Water Management’s web-based Rent Estimator can be used to verify the rental computation on your water billing statement.
The Water Rent Estimator calculates provincial water rentals, which are yearly payments for water diversion and use. In 2016, the tool was modified to reflect recent changes to licensing and use approvals.
This program calculates the volume and purpose of a particular item. It’s possible that the actual rentals will differ.
Late payment penalties and amendment costs, for example, are not calculated by the tool.
Rent Calculator for Water
The billing practices of Water Management have altered. You will now receive an annual statement if you were previously invoiced on a three-year billing cycle.
Non-domestic groundwater users, who must now pay fees and rents to divert and utilize water, are the most significant changes.
What portion of the water bill is paid by the renter?
Any fixed water charges billed by a water company in New Zealand are the responsibility of the landlord. Whether your property is inhabited or not, you must pay these fees.
If your property’s water is billed based on usage, your tenant is liable for paying for metered water that is directly related to the property. If the property does not have an individual meter, the landlord is responsible for both the metered and fixed charges.
Some water companies are increasingly included wastewater utilization calculations in their computations. Water that drains down your drains, such as from the shower and toilet, is referred to as wastewater.
Tenants may be charged for wastewater that is directly related to their usage, such as when the wastewater price is calculated as a percentage of metered consumption.
Landlords are responsible for paying fixed wastewater rates, which are calculated as a fixed annual amount divided by twelve.
Do tenants have to pay their water bills?
‘The tenant shall be responsible for all charges associated with the consumption of services supplied to the premises, including electricity, gas, water, and telephone,’ according to Clause 46 of the Residential Tenancies Act.
Is the water bill paid by the landlord?
Finally, it is up to you to make a decision. You can specify in the rental agreement that your tenants are responsible for paying the water bill. Alternatively, you can keep it in your name and include the water expense in the rent payment.
Water expenses being included in the rental price can be appealing to tenants because it relieves them of one more responsibility. Utility bills are frequently included in the rent in households with multiple occupants (HMOs), such as student leases. However, doing it this manner places you in charge, which adds to the bother and can become an issue if tenants fail to pay their rent.
Who pays the utility bills: the landlord or the tenant?
During the time between tenancies, the landlord is liable for all utility bills, hence all bills should be in the landlord’s name.
Is it legal for a landlord to start charging for utilities in British Columbia?
My rent includes all utilities, including heat. My landlord handed me a copy of the heating bill yesterday and told me that I would have to pay for the heat from now on since it was too expensive. Is it necessary for me to pay?
You are not required to pay the bill. The lease agreement you have with your landlord is a contract, and the terms of the contract bind both of you. Your landlord cannot instruct you to pay more per month, just as you could not decide to pay $50 less per month in rent just because you felt like it. When your landlord agreed to pay the utilities, he acknowledged the possibility that they would rise in the future. The landlord may raise the rent in order to make more money. According to the RTA Handbook published by Service Alberta,
After a tenancy begins, landlords cannot force tenants to pay utilities unless the residential tenancy agreement:
- The utilities are expressly stated to be included in the rent.
- Is quiet on who pays the utilities, although the landlord has always taken a share of the rent to cover them.
Tenants and landlords might agree that utilities are no longer included in the rent.
Landlords must offer a valid written notice of a rent increase to recover increasing utility costs.
But what if your landlord still sends you a heat bill? You might want to consider writing your landlord a letter explaining why you are unable to pay your power payment. It’s a good idea to have everything in writing in case you have a disagreement with your landlord. If you’re refusing to pay because the lease specifies that utilities are covered, attach a copy of the agreement with that clause marked. You might also include a copy of the RTA Handbook section in the letter so that the landlord can contact Service Alberta for more information.
If the landlord wishes to raise the rent to compensate the higher-than-expected utility expenditures, he or she must adhere to the rent-hike laws. More information can be found in our Rent Increases Tipsheet.
What else does a renter have to pay for?
Know what you’re spending. Rent. TV & Media Services, as well as utility costs (gas, electricity, and water). Telephone costs, line leasing fees, and internet costs are all factors to consider.
Is it true that tenants are accountable for water leaks?
Your duties and responsibilities You cannot be forced to perform repairs that are the duty of your landlord. You are responsible for paying for repairs if you cause damage to another tenant’s property, such as when water seeps into another flat from an overflowing bath.
What exactly does rent entail?
The amount of money paid by a renter for the privilege to live in a property is referred to as rent. Although rent is commonly expressed in dollars, it can also refer to any commodities or services provided in exchange for the right to live in a property. Any money paid or payable as a bond is not included in rent.
Victoria, do landlords have to pay for water?
Water and sewage systems Unless the rental provider (landlord) agrees to pay, the renter must pay for the water they use as well as the sewage disposal charge if the property has its own meter. In that scenario, it should be stated as a particular condition in the rental agreement (lease).