I’m a home owner
Buying or selling a house? Or do you have renters moving in or out of a property you own? Read our guide to get the low-down.
- I'm buying a property
- I'm selling a property
- I have renters moving in/out of a property I own
Setting up your account
You don’t need to do anything - your solicitor or conveyancer will send us your details via a Notice of Acquisition to set up an account for you when you purchase a property. You'll get your first bill within three months of the settlement date.
Got grand plans in mind? Apply for a property service plan that outlines where the property’s sewer and internal plumbing assets are located through PropertyConnect.
Learn about managing your account.
How to get an information statement
Before you buy any property you can get an information statement which shows rates and charges for the property, as well as any outstanding charges (encumbrances). Most of the time your solicitor or conveyancer will organise this for you.
It’s easy to apply for a statement online through Property Connect.
Do I need to order a meter read?
There’s no need to apply for a special meter read at settlement. Information statements now include historical usage data to help you calculate charges from the last meter read to the settlement date.
What happens if there are charges owing when I buy a property?
As of 1 July 2013, under s.274(4A) of the Water Act 1989 (Vic), all amounts due to be paid by the property owner to South East Water, is lien on the property (whether or not South East Water has agreed to defer the payment of the whole or any part of that amount). Lien is a charge placed on a property for the satisfaction of a debt. This includes (but is not limited to) amounts incurred for the charges below:
Any outstanding amounts owing on any of these charges prior to 1 July 2013 have now transitioned to lien.
Other authorities’ charges, including the Waterways and Drainage charge and Parks charge, continue to be lien.
Processing for property settlements
It’s important to note that when a charge is incurred on a property, the amount is usually repaid when the property is sold or transferred; and if this does not occur, any unpaid debt will become the responsibility of the new property owner.
Closing your account
You don’t need to do anything - your solicitor or conveyancer will let us know the property has been sold.
How to get an information statement
Before you sell a property you can get an information statement which shows rates and charges for the property, as well as any outstanding charges (encumbrances). Most of the time your solicitor or conveyancer will organise this for you.
It’s easy to apply for a statement online through Property Connect.
Do I need to order a final meter read?
There’s no need to apply for a special meter read at settlement. Information statements now include historical usage data to help you calculate charges from the last meter read to the settlement date.
What happens if there are charges owing when I buy a property?
As of 1 July 2013, under s.274(4A) of the Water Act 1989 (Vic), all amounts due to be paid by the property owner to South East Water, is lien on the property (whether or not South East Water has agreed to defer the payment of the whole or any part of that amount). Lien is a charge placed on a property for the satisfaction of a debt. This includes (but is not limited to) amounts incurred for the charges below:
Any outstanding amounts owing on any of these charges prior to 1 July 2013 have now transitioned to lien.
Other authorities’ charges, including the Waterways and Drainage charge and Parks charge, continue to be lien.
Processing for property settlements
It’s important to note that when a charge is incurred on a property, the amount is usually repaid when the property is sold or transferred; and if this does not occur, any unpaid debt will become the responsibility of the new property owner.
How do I move renters into a property?
If you have a rental provider managing the property for you, they will normally submit a move in request for the new the renters.
Once this has been actioned, the renter will start being billed for the Usage charges.
If you're self managing the property, you can submit the details of the renter via our move in form.
Renters can't move themselves into a property, so this request needs to come from you or your rental provider.
Will I still get a water bill?
Yes.
Even with renters at a property, owners will still get a quarterly water bill. The renter is responsible for the responsible for paying the water usage charge, this includes what was previously called the sewage disposal charge.. The owner is responsible for paying the fixed water and sewerage service charges, as well as the Waterways and Drainage and the Parks charge.
You can find out more about you water bill here.
How do I move renters out of a property?
There are three ways to move a renter out a property:
- The renter submits the move out request themselves
- You or your rental provider submits a move out request
- We recieve a move in request from you or your rental provider - the move in request automatically creates a move out request for any exsisting renters.
Are there times a renter can't be billed for water usage?
- If your property doesn't have its own water meter, under the Water Act 1989, the owner of the property cannot request a renter pay usage charges
- If it's a commerical property you will continue to recieve the water bill in your name.