Water bill shock after neighbour's dodgy act with couple on holiday
A pair of Aussie pensioners reportedly copped a $300 water bill – and this might be why.
It's not uncommon to hear stories of bad neighbours in Australia. From late-night music to overgrown trees and battles over dividing fences, the list of ways neighbour conflict can erupt is long.
However one neighbour in Perth, Western Australia, has allegedly taken things up a notch by reportedly "stealing" water from their elderly neighbours while they were away.
The female neighbour was said to be caught "red-handed" by the couple’s child after their parents came home from their holiday to find a "$300+" water bill.
"They have been away for a few weeks on holidays (to visit relatives in the old country) and they came back to a $300+ water bill," the shocked Aussie fumed online alongside a photo of the apparent transgression. The image shows a hose attached to a tap at the side of a house before being flung over the neighbour's fence.
The Reddit user claimed they "caught the neighbour" taking the water, and speculated they did so under the believe the home owners were still away.
"Her excuse was she was 'testing' as she had seen her nearby builder doing that before! WTAF?" they wrote. "What can my parents do? They are pensioners and this is a lot of money for them."
The poster claimed the neighbour had since stopped responding to questions about what she was up to.
The online complaint has racked up hundreds of comments since being posted yesterday. Yahoo News Australia reached out to the poster on Thursday but did not hear back.
Do you have a story about a 'bad' neighbour? Contact reporter Laura Koefoed at laura.koefoed@yahooinc.com
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Aussies were furious by the situation, with hundreds agreeing such an act would constitute stealing. "It’s theft, pure and simple. Your parents have paid for the water, that the neighbour has taken without permission," one person said.
"F**king assholes report it to the police," another advised.
Others urged the poster to call their parents' water provider first. "Explain it to them, including that you have photographic evidence and that your parents will not pay for the water used while they were away. The water bodies have this stuff happen all the time and will assist in sorting things out," one user, who claims they previously worked for a water retailer, commented.
Is it illegal to steal water from a neighbour?
WA Water told Yahoo a situation like this would be a matter for the police as it occurred on the customer side of the meter and would be considered theft.
According to the Western Australian government's Legal Aid, a homeowner can also refuse to let people come onto their property, including a neighbour. "If someone refuses to leave after you have asked them to, you may call the police."
Each jurisdiction has its own laws and bodies to contact if water is taken from your premises without consent. For example, in Sydney, the fine for water theft is $2,200, according to Sydney Water, which states that it "takes water theft very seriously".
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