Any outstanding balance after a change of ownership has been completed will become the responsibility of the new property owner, as the debt remains with the property, not with the customer.
Prior to the settlement of a property, your solicitor or conveyancer will typically arrange a Special Meter Reading (SMR). The SMR service allows the solicitor or conveyancer to identify the pro-rata balance owing (or any credit) on the account at the time of settlement. Any balance owing for the water and sewerage account is typically paid by the seller to the buyer in the settlement. This is in accordance with the REIQ Contract of Sale.
The new owner of the property is then responsible for paying all future water and sewerage accounts.
If you or your solicitor did not arrange for a SMR prior to settlement of the property sale, and the balance owing at the time of the settlement was not paid to you as part of the property settlement, you are still responsible for all charges on the account. If you have any concerns, you can refer to your property settlement statement provided by your solicitor or conveyancer or contact them directly to clarify the terms of your property settlement.