Turbulence ahead as first water bills arrive

Property managers are bracing for an ‘‘admin nightmare’’ when Cambridge switches over to water meters in August.

Multiple properties connecting to one water meter and the compilation of water bills stand out as two likely hurdles landlords, tenants and their property managers will have to negotiate.

Waipa District Council plans to post mock water bills for Cambridge properties in June, with real bills starting in August.

The bills will include a fixed network charge to help pay for infrastructure, and a volume charge based on how much water is used.

Water bills will be passed on to tenants but it is unclear whether they will have to pay both components of the bill, or just the volume charge based on the amount of water they use. The council said it wasn’t something it could advise on. It was between landlords and tenants.

The Government’s Tenancy Services said tenants should pay for both charges. The Residential Tenancy Act clearly stated tenants were responsible for consumption and fixed charges. If the tenant moved out of the property, the landlord became responsible for the fixed network charge.

Tenancy Services said it understood some property owners, managers and tenants had come up with their own arrangements.

Cambridge’s LJ Hooker franchise owner Gerda Elliott said the firm managed about 60-70 properties and most of its tenants were aware of the changes.

‘‘This has the ability to become an admin nightmare if not dealt with correctly.

‘‘We have been proactive in the process and set up systems whereby the landlord will pay the full charge and we will collect the volume usage charge only, from the tenants.’’

It meant the owner was instructed to pay the whole bill first, then the fixed network charge was deducted from the bill and the tenant was invoiced separately for their water use only.

Alison Olsen, a property manager for LJ Hooker, said there could be some awkward scenarios if tenants did not pay.

‘‘It will be interesting to see if they do pay promptly or we have to chase them.’’

The firm had given tenants some options if they couldn’t afford a lump-sum payment.

Elliott said problems still remained for cross-leased properties with one water meter for two or more houses, for example.

‘‘If you have a single tenant in one house and a family of six in the other, how do you deal with it?

‘‘The council does have the option to install a separate water meter on an owner’s request but there is a charge to that.’’

Harcourts Cambridge property manager Michael Morton agreed that cross-leased properties appeared to face the biggest hurdle.

‘‘It comes down to the responsibility of the property owner to decide whether or not to install another meter [for each property on a cross-lease]. That’s what the council seems to be encouraging them to do. Maybe when the bills start coming in, landlords might look into it more.’’

Morton said installing new water meters on the existing pipe network presented new challenges.

‘‘All properties are different; you have to find access to the original pipe, stop the pipe, put in a new pipe for a new water meter.

‘‘There could be concrete underground, gardens to worry about, it could be a big property to deal with. It’s a real muddle.’’ The finish line is in sight for cyclists, as the final link in the Te Awa River Ride gets the go-ahead.

Construction will kick off at the long-awaited and crucial cycle link between Hamilton and Cambridge in 2018, and Hamilton cycle tour operator Dan Tairaki said it can’t come soon enough.

‘‘That’s gold, mate. It definitely is,’’ Tairaki said.

On Friday, NZ Transport Agency director of regional relationships in the central North Island Pareka¯whia McLean announced funding for the first section of the 20km path, which will provide a 60km cycling and walking route between Kara¯ piro and Nga¯ ruawa¯ hia.

The Hamilton-Cambridge section crosses three council territories and connects to the national highway network.

It requires collaboration by Waipa District, Waikato District and Hamilton City councils in their respective long-term plans and the Regional Land Transport Plan 2018/21, due to be finalised later in the year.

Tairaki runs a cycle tour shop in Garden Place, renting and selling E-bikes. The announcement provided opportunities for business, recreation and commuters, he said.

‘‘We can anchor people in Hamilton, shuttle them out to Nga¯ ruawa¯ hia and they can cycle back in or we can shuttle them out to Kara¯piro and they can cycle back in,’’ Tairaki said.

‘‘But also for the retail. We’re already selling bikes to folks who are commuting to work from Nga¯ ruawa¯ hia to Hamilton, which is great, and that will encourage the same thing from Cambridge as well.’’

Details on the route the cycleway will take are being finalised, McLean said, but it will include a combination of roadside paths and purpose-built sections near the river.

Connections to community facilities and the existing cycle networks of Cambridge, Tamahere and Hamilton will be provided.