Water meter switched with neighbour

[PrincessiePie]

Please can someone help me with this dilemma?

I started renting a property in November 2011 from a rental agency and the property had an irrigation system running on a timer that we were told to keep on. After the first 3 months we realised that the bill was crazy high for water (R 1500). The bill is in the owner’s name and the rental company sends us a copy of the statement and we pay the water and refuge and sanitation part thereof to the agency and the owner pays the rates and taxes. Our electricity is on a prepaid meter that you go online to buy units, but if your municipal account is in arrear, it will first deduct that amount before you can purchase electricity.

After complaining endlessly, they allowed us to switch the irrigation system off timer and use it manually so we had some control of the water usage.

The water bill remained so high.

We complained once again and insisted there was a leak. We got our own plumber to check and they cleared there were no leaks. The rental agent kept insisting that water was just so high.

We decided to turn of our water at the main meter and found that we continued to have water but that the other 3 houses in our cluster were cut off. So in effect, we have been paying their water. The 3 houses all together now have 20 occupants as they are running a commune that has expanded this month. I am afraid that my water bill this month will be insane.

I told the rental agent what we found out and he said he would contact the municipality to fix it.

For 2 months nothing has happened.

What can I do because if in the end they do fix it and credit the account, I will no longer be at this house to use up the credit?

If anyone has advice for me pleases help. Should I just cut my losses now and move before it escalates or will I receive what is due to me in some way.

Thank you.

[Garyvdh]

You need to kick up a serious fuss with the Rental Agency. light a fire under some asses. They need to get you a refund asap. This is VERY not acceptable.
Also call your local DA councillor.

[shogun]

You need to kick up a serious fuss with the Rental Agency. light a fire under some asses. They need to get you a refund asap. This is VERY not acceptable.
Also call your local DA councillor.

^This. I would already have gotten a lawyer to write a letter to them.

[Pietleeu]

Oh Goodness

[reactor_sa]

Oh Goodness

Oh GTFO, say something useful or say nothing at all. FFS, spammers...

[Lupus]

I don't think you will get anything back, if anything the next people will be living off your credit. I would've turned the water off the first R1500 water bill, as that is redonk high.

[shogun]

You could also just threaten to turn the water off (hey, it's "your water") and wait for the other tenants to kick into high gear. This money should be retrieved from them and be given back to you.

[PrincessiePie]

What do you mean by have the water turned off?
How can I do that?
I know the meter has a tap but the other tenants will just turn it back on and the lady in charge of the cluster told me its illegal to turn it off.
If they convert the water into my name, and they eventually credit the acount, when we move will the credit remain on my name or will it stay with the "house"?
Thank you for all the advice, I really felt like I was fighting a losing battle.

[chrisc4290]

You need to kick up a serious fuss with the Rental Agency. light a fire under some asses. They need to get you a refund asap. This is VERY not acceptable.
Also call your local DA councillor.

Do this - very good advice!!

I had similar with a rental house I own in a complex. Council stuffed up big-time and it took 5 visits to council offices for them to sort it out. Eventually got a credit in my personal name which I can use to pay rates bills, etc. But at the beginning, no-one was interested.

[xrapidx]

Nr1 stop paying for the water, its obviously not yours, so you're not obligated to pay it.

[PrincessiePie]

Nr1 stop paying for the water, its obviously not yours, so you're not obligated to pay it.

If I stop paying I cant buy electricity because the system first wants to deduct the outstanding amount.

[xrapidx]

I thought you had prepaid electricity?

[IceQB]

With prepaid electricity some municipalities check for outstanding amounts and deduct a certain percent from your electricity purchase.

[WilD_CaT]

My advice...

1. First, explain this to your neighbours as well as the rental agency. Don't issue a legal letter as your first move, see if they understand your situation and will help.
2. Second, tell them if you don't get your money back you are either moving or issuing a legal letter. Your choice. Either way they will start paying.
3. Three if you threaten to move, tell the rental agent you will inform the next occupants or take out ads in local newspaper explaining to people what they are in for (getting shafted) by the rental agent, ruining their reputation. Keep details of any correspondance (Get proof that your explanation is how the meter system works) so you can back up your claims.

[PrincessiePie]

I thought you had prepaid electricity?

They want to deduct the water amount first (somehow it is linked??)