Water Efficiency Measures for Rental Properties in NSW

New legislation changes will be introduced in New South Wales for landlords and rental properties.

Under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010, landlords are permitted to charge tenants for water usage only if the property has a separate meter and complies with other specific requirements, including certain water efficiency standards.

These standards involve making sure that all taps and toilets are free of leaks at the beginning of a tenancy and whenever any upgrades or repairs occur. Additionally, shower heads, internal cold-water taps, and mixer taps in the kitchen and bathroom must have a maximum flow rate of 9 litres per minute.

From 23 March 2025 landlords must ensure rental properties have dual flush toilets with a minimum 3-star Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) rating if they wish to pass on water usage charges to their tenants.

The new dual flush requirement joins existing water efficiency measures to ensure tenants are only paying for water usage where homes meet modern water efficiency standards, these include:

• Shower heads have a maximum flow rate of 9 litres a minute, 
• Internal cold-water taps, and single mixer taps for kitchen sinks and bathroom basins have a maximum flow rate of 9 litres a minute 
• There are no leaking taps or toilets anywhere on the property at the start of the tenancy and whenever the other water efficiency measures are installed, repaired or upgraded 

If a rental property does not meet the requirements, a landlord cannot pass on water usage costs to tenants.

All Oliveri toilets exceed the minimum water efficiency requirements outlined in the new legislation, our toilets have been rated 4 Stars under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme, showcasing their commitment to conserving water. They operate at an average flush volume of just 3.5 litres. Investing in water-efficient technologies like these ensures properties remain compliant with the latest legislation while contributing positively to broader environmental conservation efforts.

References

NSW Fair Trading. (2024). How to improve water efficiency in rental properties. Retrieved from https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/landlords/how-to-improve-water-efficiency-rental-properties