QLD Water Efficiency Standards: Can You Charge Tenants for Water?

If you own a rental property in Queensland and you want your tenants to pay for water, there’s a catch. Your property has to meet water efficiency standards first. No compliance, no charging tenants for water. It’s that simple.

This isn’t a suggestion or a guideline. It’s a legal requirement under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. And it catches a lot of Caboolture landlords off guard, usually at the worst possible time, during a tenancy dispute or a property management audit. Here’s what you need to know.

What are the QLD water efficiency standards?

To be water efficient under Queensland legislation, your rental property must have:

• Water-efficient showerheads: flow rate of 9 litres per minute or less. Most modern showerheads meet this, but an older one might flow at 15 to 20 litres per minute, well over the limit.
• Water-efficient taps: internal cold water taps (kitchen and bathroom) must flow at 9 litres per minute or less. Aerators can be fitted to existing taps to reduce flow.
• Dual flush toilets: all toilets must be dual flush. Single flush toilets don’t meet the standard, even if they work perfectly, and need replacing before you can charge for water.
• No leaks: no leaking taps, toilets or pipes. Even a minor drip or a slowly running toilet disqualifies the property.

How to get a water efficiency certificate

A water efficiency certificate is issued by a licensed plumber after inspecting the property and confirming all fixtures meet the standards. The process:

• Book an inspection: we check every showerhead, tap and toilet, measuring flow rates, flush types and testing for leaks.
• Identify non-compliant fixtures: if anything doesn’t meet the standard, we give you a list of what needs upgrading.
• Upgrade if needed: we can replace non-compliant fixtures during the same visit in most cases. We carry common models on the van.
• Issue the certificate: once everything is compliant, we issue a certificate documenting the inspection date, property address and results.
• Provide to your property manager or tenant: the certificate is your proof of compliance. Keep a copy with your property records.

Hidden water wasters that catch landlords out

• Running toilets: the number one issue. A toilet that slowly leaks from cistern to bowl wastes hundreds of litres a day but makes little noise. It shows up immediately with a dye test.
• Old showerheads: even modern-looking ones may not meet the 9L/min standard. The only way to know is to measure the flow rate.
• Dripping taps: a tap that drips once per second wastes about 20 litres a day. One dripping tap fails the assessment.
• Single flush toilets: many older Caboolture rentals still have them. There’s no exemption for age or condition.
• Leaking outdoor taps: garden taps are part of the property plumbing and need to work properly.
• Hidden leaks: underground or behind-wall leaks still count. If the meter shows usage when everything is off, there’s a leak. Our leak detection service pinpoints it.

What happens if you don’t comply?

If your property doesn’t meet the standards and you charge tenants for water anyway, the tenant can dispute the charges through the Queensland Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA). The likely outcome:

• You’ll have to refund the water charges for the period the property was non-compliant
• The tenant may claim compensation for overpayment
• Your property manager may face liability questions if they charged water on your behalf without confirming compliance

It’s a straightforward dispute for the tenant to win if the property doesn’t have a valid water efficiency certificate.

What does it cost to get compliant?

The inspection and certificate are straightforward. Beyond that, the cost depends entirely on what needs replacing. A property that just needs an aerator or two is a world apart from one needing several toilets swapped. Rather than guess, we inspect first and give you an accurate quote for any fixtures that need upgrading, so there are no surprises. Whatever it comes to, it’s almost always less than a full year of water charges you can’t legally recover, so it pays for itself quickly.

We work with property managers and landlords

We provide water efficiency assessments and certificates across the Moreton Bay region. We understand the urgency. You need this sorted before the next lease renewal or before a tenant disputes charges. Same-week bookings available. We inspect, upgrade and certify in a single visit wherever possible.
Call 1300 793 962 or contact us to book a water efficiency assessment.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a water efficiency certificate valid?

Queensland legislation doesn’t specify an expiry date. However, the property must remain compliant for as long as you’re charging tenants for water. If fixtures are replaced, start leaking, or conditions change, you need a new assessment. Best practice is to recertify at each change of tenancy.

Can I charge tenants for water without a certificate?

No. If your property doesn’t meet the standards, you can’t legally pass water charges on to tenants in Queensland. The tenant can dispute the charges through the RTA and you’ll likely have to refund them. Getting certified is the only way to legally charge for water.

What if only one fixture doesn’t meet the standard?

One non-compliant fixture means the whole property fails. Even a single old showerhead over 9L/min or one dripping tap disqualifies it. The good news is most individual fixture replacements are quick, often done during the same visit as the inspection.

Do I need a plumber to issue the certificate?

Yes. A water efficiency certificate must be issued by a licensed plumber who has inspected the property and verified compliance. Self-assessment is not accepted. The plumber takes responsibility for confirming the fixtures meet the required standards.

Does this apply to all rental properties in Queensland?

It applies to all residential tenancies governed by the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008: houses, units, townhouses and granny flats rented under a standard tenancy agreement. If you want tenants to pay for water usage, the property must be water efficient.