Watering System

LElias77 on 19/01/2019 - 20:16

Hi All

I just have a question and hoping some one can help with an answer.

I have been living at my rental property for 10 months through real estat agent and only this week the owner decided to come and do the garden. now he installed a watering system for the gardening and obviously this will costin the raise of water bill.
my question am i resposibile for the watering system or have the right to seek a compensation or rejection of that since it wasnt there when first i rented the property.
your help much appreciated.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Skramit on 19/01/2019 - 20:29
    +9

    BREAKING: In a world first, a tenant complains when landlord makes improvements to garden and asks for compensation.

    My sides.

    • Elias77 on 19/01/2019 - 20:58

      im sure you will be not happy if someone taken one dollar from you unwillingly so I hope you not trying here to be an ideal person. if you have an answer to my question more than happy to say it
      im not looking for your side conversation
      thanks

      • Hardlyworkin on 19/01/2019 - 23:02

        You get what you pay for. We get entertainment ;)

  • [Deactivated] on 19/01/2019 - 20:29

    this week the owner decided to come and do the garden

    Be grateful he is doing the garden. That is very nice of him, and something you would normally pay alot for if pay to have someone in to garden.
    The water cost would be insignificant, compared to cost of getting a gardener in and having to pay. Unless you don't want a nice garden, then maybe there could be an issue there.
    I pay someone to do gardening and mowing and pay for all my own plants, and I can be evicted if yard is unkempt (government housing, but I think there are similar rules in private rentals) . I'm assuming he has even spent money on plants and materials to make garden look nice for you.

    If you totally don't care at all about whether garden looks nice or looks terrible, then say something to him to that effect, but they likely won't renew lease.

  • SBOB on 19/01/2019 - 20:35
    +5

    water is billed at about $2 per kL (depending on your area)
    its going to add f all to your bill

    • Elias77 on 19/01/2019 - 20:56
      -5

      regardless of its cost im asking its my right or not

    • outlander on 19/01/2019 - 21:18

      Little more than that, but still insignificant. Water is $2 per KL, + $2 per kl for disposal charge. If it waters the garden twice a week at 200L per event, thats 400L per week. Times 4, thats 1600L. About $10 worth of water every month.

      • rt1111 on 20/01/2019 - 09:00

        How is that $10?

  • kahn on 19/01/2019 - 20:48
    +12

    You have tackled this issue in the best way possible - by creating an account on a bargain website and asking its visitors for their opinion. Most people would've done something crazy like ask the real estate agent or the state's tenants advocacy group.

    • Elias77 on 19/01/2019 - 21:01

      thank you Kahn

      • rt1111 on 20/01/2019 - 14:54

        This reply by OP really gets to the heart of the problem for me.

  • Elias77 on 19/01/2019 - 21:00
    -4

    please im asking for a legal answer. I know its a small issue but I would like to know if I have the right to say no
    im not asking for a side ocnversation

  • Gronk on 19/01/2019 - 21:01
    +5

    Sigh

    You are aware that as a tenant, it's your responsibility to maintain the garden at the property you're renting, right?

    If anything, the landlord is doing you a favor by installing a watering system, now if the garden dies off you don't need to worry about a claim against your bond.

    • Elias77 on 19/01/2019 - 21:04
      -2

      hi
      there wasn't a garden before. it was just grace. he did a garden beds over two days periods and did the water system after he finished. wasn't any garden when first I rented the property

      • Gronk on 19/01/2019 - 21:20

        If the owner has already been working on the property for the past 2 days you must have already given consent, am I missing something?

        • Elias77 on 19/01/2019 - 21:45

          the real estate agent sent me a text message saying the landloard want wants to do some work in the front yard
          I didn't even replay to him saying yes
          that's all

          • Gronk on 19/01/2019 - 21:48
            +4

            @Elias77: You either do not fully understand the agreement you entered into when you signed your tenancy contract, or you're a troll.

  • horice on 19/01/2019 - 21:04

    Gee It wouldnt be connected to a tap would it ?

    • Elias77 on 19/01/2019 - 21:06
      -2

      it is connected now. but the garden was not their when I first rented he is been doing it over two days now but im leaving the property in 2 months time so how this advantage me ?

  • robbyjones on 19/01/2019 - 21:08
    +2

    No, you don't have the right to compensation (for what exactly). You can elect to not water the garden and then be up for the cost of replacing the garden you had when you moved in, if that is your preference. If the garden hasn't changed then the cost to you should be the same, if the owner upgraded the garden with a more laborious watering required then perhaps take this up with the agent.
    My opinion; you sound like a whingy pain in the proverbial and I would give you notice at the end of your lease if you were my tenant. As has been mentioned you should be grateful the owner has done any gardening.

    • Elias77 on 19/01/2019 - 21:14
      -5

      to b honest with respect to some I think I came to the wrong side don't know why most of you trying to talk on a subject nothing to do to what I say. the garden was not there when I first rented he created only now so obviously he want to use my time been living here to prepare it for the next tenant to increase the rent perhaps. I got the house and I should give it back as it
      im sure if I ask consumer affair it will be my right plus the landloard he is really pain otherwise I don't really care if I have to pay 50 dollar extra over two months period. im already paying 2100 in rent and living in my own but the fact the hi si a pain I don't want to do it for him
      you saing a garden when I moved it ( the wasn't any garden ) I should have just said no when he just did it 3 days ago

      • robbyjones on 19/01/2019 - 21:21

        Rising above your pettiness for a moment: if the garden wasn't there then you shouldn't have to spend more time watering it than you would the grass that was replaced. If there is now a watering system then I would think the owner is not expecting you to do anything, watering systems can be put on timers. Rather than suppositions and maybes perhaps call the agent with your concerns, there is absolutely no need to contact any consumer authorities, it is a complete waste of their time, there is nothing they can do for you anyway. If you are required to pay the water costs and your next bill is significantly more than what you have paid for the last 9 months with no increase in extra water usage by you then take this up with the agent and if they insist it is your responsibility THEN go to the consumer authorities. For now, do nothing.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/01/2019 - 04:51

          If you are required to pay the water costs and your next bill is significantly more than what you have paid for the last 9 months with no increase in extra water usage by you then take this up with the agent and if they insist it is your responsibility THEN go to the consumer authorities.

          OP should go right now, and take photo of numbers showing on water meter, and then take photo of water meter numbers just before moving out.
          That way extra water usage, can be proven, using some fairly simple mathematics . Ie. If bill for 120 days = X , then divide X by 120, and you have average daily consumption. If water usage between now (new watering system just added) and date OP leaves , count days, divide the water usage by number of days, and you can show increase that way . Or just look at your answer from X divided by 120 , and multiply the daily use amount, by number of days passed since new watering system installed, deduct that estimated amount of what it should be (prior to watering system) deduct this from actual usage metered then you have how much extra megalitres of water was used by the new watering system.
          The larger issue is certainly the 6 inspections in 10 months though, IMO (not a lawyer) landlord needs to prove reasonable justifications for this, and they most definitely need to give notice prior to inspections, not just turn up whenever they want

  • JimmyF on 19/01/2019 - 21:19

    am i resposibile for the watering

    Yes upkeep of the garden is a tenant task, so keeping the plants/lawn alive and well (aka watering) its all part of your rental.

    • Elias77 on 19/01/2019 - 21:30

      I pay 50 dollar to a laonmower every month
      this garden is new. created 3 days ago which mean 10 months after my rental agreement

      • JimmyF on 19/01/2019 - 21:54

        which mean 10 months after my rental agreement

        Better late than never?

  • trustnoone on 19/01/2019 - 22:24
    +1

    I'm having trouble seeing the issue here, so basically you're saying the guy added extra things to the garden (to clean and water) connected to the water system that originally wasn't there. And your issue is that you don't want to have to pay the extra money to water it?

    I'm not a lawyer at all so this could be wrong, if its not part of the rental agreement then you probably don't have to water it, or possibly get reimbursed for the cost of water. Likely though its probably not that easy, the agreement was made at the start of renting the place, so I'd say you'd only be liable to the part that you agreed to. On the other hand the agreement is probably more encompassing like you agree to keep the whole backyard clean/alive/watered.

    I think the issue people are having above is that the extra costs would be tiny, you're going to have to have a massive argument over your agent over this to save maybe $30 a year or something in water. Water is usually so cheap I'm surprised you're even paying for it. Its just a lot of trouble to go through, for an issue thats sort of grey, with the chance of making living in your place to be very difficult going forward (dealing with landlord/agent).

    • Elias77 on 19/01/2019 - 22:44

      he created the garden three days ago

      if he was so kind of a person over the 10 months period I have no issue for letting him use the water system but believe me he is so pain of a landloard that i don't want to let him take advantage of me. im renting now and will move in two months time from the house to another rental property in the same area for no reason other than been so hard dealing with him
      you not going to believe over 10 months period I have 6 times house inspections where it suppose to be only towice a year. when I telling the real estate agent he cant do that he is telling me he has the right to inspect when he feels the property not safe or damaged

      believe me he is just one off those that you don't want to deal with

      im paying 2100 and living in my own certainly will not care of 50 dollar extra for water if he was nice person.

      • trustnoone on 19/01/2019 - 22:52

        I understand but I feel like you're setting yourself up for a whole heap of pain, soon you'll leave, and theres going to be a big argument over your deposit, and you're only there for 2 months, which means you'll likely pay nothing or maybe $1 for water.

        It feels like you're going to make a massive issue over a dollar or two.

        The inspection is another issue and (again I'm not a lawyer) is not legal as far as I know. But since you're already on your way out, I just feel its easiest to let things slide for the 2 months, move out clean and easy and when you do, get your deposit back.

        Then turn around, contact tenant agency and complain about the too many inspections etc (especially if you have that stuff by email, or a diary of dates they came around). That will be the best way of getting justice for that sort of thing, this could really hurt them and let you get out clean because they can no longer do anything to you as you're already gone.

        I just feel the water issue, isn't really an issue, it sounds like everything else is.

        • Elias77 on 19/01/2019 - 23:20

          thank you for your advice. I will do just that

          I appreciate you

          • [Deactivated] on 20/01/2019 - 04:34
            -1

            @Elias77:

            contact tenant agency and complain about the too many inspections etc

            Make sure you explain to tenant rights agency or simlar, that you will need and interpreter please as you will be able to express yourself much better in native language rather than English.
            If you try to explain in English, you may likely find misunderstandings due to English clearly not being your native language at all.
            I am having some trouble, understanding some of your writing in this thread here. So I can only imagine it will be very hard for this complex issue to be thoroughly explained, without interpreter and then you can explain exactly what happened, in your own language.

  • holdenmg on 19/01/2019 - 22:26
    +3

    Sounds like you got the…

    "I'm 10/12ths the way into a 1 year lease, got irrigation system (not my garden) pay for the lawn too be mowed, this is gonna push up my water bill and rent blues…

  • GangGang on 20/01/2019 - 06:25

    Read your contract for a legal answer. It will most likely say you need to maintain the garden. Water won't cost much anyway.

    I'd be more worried about your rental increase or renewal agreement than a watering system being installed. Are you on a 1 year lease? It's coming up.

  • Hithere on 20/01/2019 - 09:01

    As the majority of your water bill is fees and charges you'll find that the extra amount watering the gardens will be at most a couple of dollars extra on every bill.

    If you can't afford paying that amount, or just don't want to pay it, for the pleasure of looking at a garden instead of just grass, weeds or bare dirt have you considered either moving out when your lease expires or perhaps starting a "Go fund me" site to pay for the new financial burden placed upon you?

  • BreezyPalms on 20/01/2019 - 09:16

    You are responsible to maintain the gardens but as others have pointed out, it would be very minimal cost.

    If it bothers you so much why not just turn off the tap…. plead ignorance that you were not aware of how it operated (or turn it back on prior to inspection).

    Or reduce the flow of water considerably (by closing the tap off halfway?)

    • Elias77 on 20/01/2019 - 09:19

      the garden created 4 days ago and I advertised them that im moving in two months time. garden will not be of any advantage to me

  • Drj55 on 20/01/2019 - 09:54

    Geez the court of public opinion can be harsh.

    Not sure why everyone is giving you a hard time. A watering system can use up quite a bit of water and noone knows how tight OPs finances are. Especially as establishing a flower bed in summer will need extra water than usual. Finally OP is being and to pay to establish the bed but will only be there for further 2 months and not get the long term benefit.

    I would suggest you write an email something along the lines of: you appreciate the work done but you are worried about the cost of watering in a new garden. You will keep an eye on the water usage / bill and if it is significantly up from the previous corresponding quarter would the landlord be kind enough to compensate for it?

    • Skramit on 20/01/2019 - 14:47

      In previous rental agreements I’ve had, I had to care for the garden. That meant watering and mowing the lawns. Now I don’t know the OPs situation but given their post and defensiveness, one might assume they don’t water the garden currently at all. So it’s possible they haven’t been doing their duty to keep the garden alive so the landlord has taken steps to prevent the whole lot dying which is reasonable. Replacing a whole garden can be very expensive.

  • redforever on 20/01/2019 - 13:00

    The only question here is, do you have access to the tap to turn it off? If so, problem solved.

  • Hithere on 20/01/2019 - 13:12

    If you are leaving in 2 months OP you won't even be paying a full 1/4 of the minimal increased water rates.

    It's probably cost you more in time and bandwidth starting a new thread for such a trivial issue.

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