Landlords could be liable for unpaid water bills

Irish Water is finalising measures to go after tenants who do not pay water charges amid growing confusion among landlords and renters about the new tariff.

The company has advised landlords to write to their tenants and request them to sign up for the new charge.

But landlords say they were advised recently by the company that they may be liable for charges if tenants do not sign up or pay.

The confusion escalated further as Irish Water tweeted that landlords would be liable, but then later deleted online postings.

The Irish Property Owners’ Association claimed its members were instructed at a recent meeting with Irish Water to ask their tenants to sign up for the new charge.

IPOA information officer Margaret McCormick said: “There’s very little clarity. Irish Water say they don’t want information from our members at the moment, they want tenants themselves to sign up.”

Irish Water has told landlords they cannot register their tenants themselves and that it will announce a strategy to deal with unregistered tenants next month.

The IPOA says a huge gap in information remains about tenants paying.

“What about people leaving properties now or next month, if they are vacant between lettings and what if someone moves out?” asked Ms McCormick.

Legislation for water charges states that “it shall be presumed... that the owner of a premises is also the occupier of that premises”.

Irish Water yesterday said: “Should a tenant vacate a property without paying their bill in full or refuse to pay their bill, Irish Water can pursue the account holder as a contract debt through the courts.

“Irish Water is currently developing a mechanism to provide landlords with a means to prove they are not the occupier of a house they have rented out if a tenant is refusing to pay their water charges.”

It also denied it had told the IPOA landlords would be liable for tenant charges.

However, a spokeswoman later said it was “not incorrect” to say a landlord may be liable.

Union of Students in Ireland president Laura Harmon said: “There’s huge confusion around this.”

Socialist TD Paul Murphy said landlords were telling tenants to sign up or they would be break leasing agreements. “They’re putting pressure on them but there’s no legal basis for doing it,” he said.