Review of Housing NSW water usage charge
In 2009 EWON completed a review of the Housing NSW water usage charging policy guidelines for public housing tenants as required under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987. We reported to the Minister for Fair Trading, as the Minister responsible for the Residential Tenancies Act 1987. We also forwarded the final report to the Minister for Housing, as the Minister responsible for public housing in NSW. In the course of the review we consulted with a range of stakeholders including Housing NSW, public housing tenants and advocates, and water providers including Sydney Water.
Background
In October 2005 amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 were passed in the NSW Parliament, including a provision for public housing tenants to pay water usage charges. The Act was also amended to provide that EWON undertake a review of the policy.
Since December 2005 Housing NSW tenants have been charged for their water consumption. The charge is in addition to the rent payable by the tenant. Tenants living in metered properties have their meters read regularly and are charged for their actual water usage. For tenants in unmetered properties their water usage charge is currently set at 3.8% of the rent the tenant actually pays. This percentage water charge is currently capped at $5.75 per week and the minimum water usage charge is $1 per week.
Information about the water usage charge policy is available at www.housing.nsw.gov.au
Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference for the review require EWON to:
- Undertake a review of the guidelines for social housing tenants paying water usage charges as adopted by Housing NSW.
- Consider any areas of possible equity concerns in particular examining:
- unmetered and separately metered premises
- cost recovery
- access to assistance measures
and any other matter that EWON considers relevant.
- Advise the NSW Government about the outcomes of the review.
The review will not consider the appropriateness of water charging as a policy.
