Minister slaps down Water Corp renters plan
WA’s Water Minister has slapped down the Water Corporation over attempts to force renters to seek financial assistance through their landlord if they cannot afford their bills.
The State-owned utility had been pushing for changes to its hardship policy that would have required tenants to notify the owner of a property if they were unable to pay their water charges.
It would have then been up to the landlord to apply to the Water Corp for help on their tenant’s behalf.
But in a rebuff of the Corporation, Mia Davies criticised the plan as unacceptable and said she had ordered the utility to fix it.
“I am not satisfied with the current policy and I have asked the Water Corporation to work with the ERA to resolve the issue,” Ms Davies said.
The comments come after the State’s economic watchdog intervened on renters’ behalf this week to reject the Water Corp’s plans.
According to the Economic Regulation Authority the proposal fell foul of the Corporation’s obligations to customers under the industry code.
The ERA also took a swipe at the Water Corp by saying the measure – which could have affected thousands of struggling households – would have “deterred” disadvantaged people from seeking assistance.
It said renters should be able to deal directly with the Water Corp if they needed to be placed on an instalment plan, rather than ask their landlord and divulge private and sensitive information.
“The Authority considers it likely that most tenants would prefer to deal with an organisation like the Water Corporation, which has trained staff and established procedures for dealing with persons in financial hardship, rather than their landlord,” the ERA said.
“Further, the requirement that the agent or landlord must contact the Water Corporation to set up a payment plan on the tenant’s behalf appears undesirable.”
A spokeswoman for the Water Corporation said it will “negotiate further with the ERA on the issue and hope to resolve it shortly”.
Any Water Corporation tenants experiencing difficulty in paying their account should contact the Water Corporation on 13 13 85 prior to the account becoming overdue.
