Can you have water meter taken off if tenant does not pay bill?

ozankoys


Joined: 20/06/2008
Posts: 905

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 08:26

Hi our friend has tenant who has paid rent but not paid the water bill since they moved in, their contract expires at the end of this month.

Can they have the water meter disconnected so that no more is added to the bill?

Thanks for any advice.

Pugwash


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 1797

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 08:29

I doubt it if the water bill is in the owners name, it will be his responsibility.

ozankoys


Joined: 20/06/2008
Posts: 905

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 08:37

Yes of course we realise that it is the owner's responsibility but as the owner can they chose to have it disconnected if they want?

onestop


Joined: 31/10/2009
Posts: 214

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 08:45

Ozankoys

Cutting the tenants electric, can certainly land you in jail, I guess the water is the same. Good luck.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 08:45

I would ask the Belediye... but you might be contravening their human rights.



Not my idea... all too many tenants don't pay up... but maybe they think the rent should include water. Does the rental contract specifically mention who will pay the water bill?

daisy dukes


Joined: 06/09/2008
Posts: 3815

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 08:55

I would have thought you can....the Beledyesi can take out the meter, so why not you?





DD

ant33


Joined: 28/08/2010
Posts: 381

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 09:33

Yes you can take the meter off as well as Belediye but it cost you 20TL to reinstall it back again.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 09:37

ant33



how so? We have to take ours off at regular intervals to remove a build-up of detritus (which reduces flow) and it costs nothing....

ant33


Joined: 28/08/2010
Posts: 381

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 09:41

Only cost you if Belediye takes it off.

biglugs


Joined: 02/10/2008
Posts: 157

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 09:43

Just remember the meter is the property of the Belediyesi

onestop


Joined: 31/10/2009
Posts: 214

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 09:49

Ozankoys, please ask your friend to take advice from their lawyer/police before removing the meter to be absolutely sure they are within their rights to do so.

ozankoys


Joined: 20/06/2008
Posts: 905

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 09:58

OK thanks for that advice, Groucho of course they know they have to pay the water it's just that as it does not get disconnected by the Belediyise until the bill reaches 2000 tl (they did not used to disconnect at all) they chose not to pay it.

123456


Joined: 26/08/2010
Posts: 26

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 10:00

are you not holding a deposit for this tenant?

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 10:40

ant33



I don't take it off, the Belediye man does. I speak to him nicely in Turkish and it doesn't cost me a penny.



Ozankoys



I understand he knows it... but does his contract say so? If there is no clause specifically saying so, then he may be legally allowed to ignore this fact. i.e. it's in your name so it's your bill even though you may have verbally agreed that he should pay it.

ant33


Joined: 28/08/2010
Posts: 381

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 12:04

Its who you know here!!

daisy dukes


Joined: 06/09/2008
Posts: 3815

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 12:27

msg 12.....i had my meter removed when the bill hit 200tl! But i complained and they replaced it the same day, no charge....





DD

birdman



Joined: 20/09/2010
Posts: 690

Message Posted:
14/10/2010 13:01

Alsancak Belidysi remeoved my meter when I refused to pay the ridiculous bill of £900, before I had a shower or pool and only used water to fill up the kettle. (I had been in the UK for three months selling up also) I still do not have it back and use my well for all purposes now. I sugest you contact your own Belidysi to remove the meter and then no one can use water from your supply until they replace it. The cost for removal is normally 10 Ytl and 20 Ytl to replace it but it can save you a lot of heartache in the future. For futur tennants, bear in mind your experience this time and take a deposit.