For water services, the property owner is always responsible for charges at the property, regardless of any billing arrangement they make with their tenants.

By law, we must provide a continuous supply of water as it’s essential for survival. Unlike other utilities such as power or gas, we cannot turn off the service.

 Basically we’re bound to supplying the service to the property, not to individual tenants. So your landlord or property owner must ensure the continuous water supply is paid for.

You can find out more on the Tenancy Services website.

Although the ultimate responsibility for payments lies with the property owner (see above), it’s common to have an arrangement with your your landlord or property manager, where you pay for your volumetric water and wastewater charges.

In this case, it can be easier on both parties for the property owner to give you access (called “authority access”) to talk to us about bills and to make payments directly.

Your landlord or property manager needs to arrange this with us. They can read more here:

How to grant access to your water account

If you have authority access from the property owner, as a tenant you can use MyAccount, our secure online portal.

Once registered online you can pay a bill, or set up a direct debit or recurring credit card payment. You can also download the app to your phone.

What you can do in MyAccount

You can also pay a bill

You can make a one-off payment using your credit card quickly and easily. You will need your account number.

Pay a bill

Simply set this up in MyAccount or call us on 09 442 2222, press 2.

Before you set up an automatic payment, there are a few things to consider:

We take the total amount due, which is for the water and wastewater services you have used, plus the fixed charges. The landlord is responsible for fixed charges.

If you move house and don’t notify us to cancel the payment, we will continue to automatically take money from your bank account each month. It’s your responsibility to cancel a recurring payment.

To cancel an existing recurring payment that’s in your name, please call us on 09 442 2222, press 2.

You can also set up an automatic payment with your bank. You need to put the account number that you want the money to be sent to as a reference. Check your account balance each month to make sure you aren’t under- or over-paying. Remember to cancel your automatic payment if you move out.

Click the link below for more information on payment options.

Pay a bill

Note: Landlords can pay an annual fixed charge

Let your landlord know that they can apply to pay an annual fixed charge.

Pay a fixed annual charge

You can also ask your landlord to arrange a second copy of each bill be sent to you, so you're able to make payment arrangements.

• No tenant names will be on the bill

• The second line of the postal address may say c/- The tenant

• The owner will receive an email copy of every bill.

Only the legal owner’s name will appear on the bill, because the contract is between Watercare and the owner.

We send a maximum of one paper bill for each account – all other copies arrive by email. There’s a small cost to getting a paper bill.

You can add two email addresses through MyAccount but if you want more, just call us to arrange.

In this case we set up a new account in the new owner’s name.

The account number for the property will change. If you have a recurring payment (automatic payment, direct debit or direct credit), you will need to set this up again.

Pay a bill