For this one I had a chat with @Leo Patterson Ross28 of the Tenants‘ Union of NSW30 and the simple answer is that the rental provider had an obligation at the beginning of the lease to provide a water efficient service in the home.
The fact you’ve already paid the bills does not release them from this obligation and means that the charges were not required to be paid under the Act and Tenancy Agreement.
To get the excess charges returned to you and to advise them you won’t be paying any water usage charges going forward, you’ll first need to put the request in writing to the rental provider giving them 14 days to resolve.
If they don’t comply and 14 days has passed, you’ll need to go NCAT112 to have orders made in your favour and see your money eventually returned.
