Council here has agreed to explain its water and sewer billing policy to an unhappy landlord – through its town staff.
Cathy Culp, of Kitchener, wrote to council on Oct. 25 after reading in the Wellington Advertiser that water meters would be installed in Drayton, and also that there would be a sewage rate increase.
“I am a landlord that rents out two houses in Drayton,” Culp said in her letter.
“Right now I am the one who pays the water and sewer bill that is included in the rent. If you meter the water in the houses are you prepared to bill the tenants for the water usage and me separately for the sewers and collect the money from the tenants for the water?”
She explained, “For us to include this in the rent would be too hard to calculate, since we do not know how much they are going to use. If we increase the rent to accommodate for this, we would have to raise the rent too high and would have trouble renting them out.”
She added, “We also need at least a year’s notice because we have [a] yearly tenancy agreement before they are hooked up.”
Culp said, “I know I am not the only landlord in Drayton that is probably wondering the same thing. Why should we as a landlord be responsible for this extra expense?”
Culp said the Newspaper article also pointed out there was going to be an increase in sewer rates.
“I feel that as [a] taxpayer in the township, I should not have to subscribe to the paper to hear about this. I have never received any notice of increases in taxes or water and sewer in writing.
“These should be sent out with your bills for people who do not live in the community but own property. In fact, I was never on the voting list until the last two elections, and have owned property there for the last 15 years.”
Culp concluded by stating she did not want to be foisted off on the township bureaucracy, but wanted an explanation directly from councillors.
“I would like this letter to be answered in writing and read at the next council meeting.
“I want a letter from the council, not from your clerk, with all signatures from each council member. I have sent a letter to each council member to their house, in hopes it gets looked after.”
When council reached her letter on the agenda (it was not read aloud but everyone had a copy), Mayor Bruce Whale stated immediately staff would be writing the response.
Clerk Patty Sinnamon said the township does inform property owners of sewer and water increases in their bills when they send them out.
She added council has indicated no interest in changing its billing system to bill directly to tenants rather than the property owners.
Sinnamon explained, “That was changed a few yeas ago because [the township] can’t collect from a tenant.”
If somebody paying rent moves away suddenly and leaves unpaid bills behind, the township cannot chase them and collect without losing time and money. Billing the landlord means the township gets its full payment. If a landlord balks, the bill is added to the township property tax bill.
That prevents other Drayton water and sewer users from being stuck with the unpaid costs.
Sinnamon said the clerk’s department “looks after correspondence; not councillors.”
Whale asked about meters for older buildings, and councillor Mike Downey wondered “who pays?”
Sinnamon said some older apartment buildings have just one water connection.
Downey suggested the landlord could simply divide the water bill between the tenants.
Public works director Larry Lynch said the problem with that is some might complain there are six apartments but only four are being rented.
Finance director Mike Givens said for landlords simply dividing the bill or having the township bill tenants “will only increase the problems.”
He said Lynch wants the township to decide about how it wants to bill for water and sewer, but, “Our issues is property and property taxes.”
Lynch said it is the property owner who decides to become a landlord. “It’s their choice to have tenants, and it’s their responsibility how to bill.”
Downey wondered if it would be feasible to allow landlords to pay for extra water meters for specific apartments.
But Givens said the township would install only one and, “They can put in others. It won’t have anything to do with us. Bills were always sent to the owners. The owner and tenant can come in and sign a declaration.”
But, he pointed out, the township has the ability to force a collection only from the landlord, and not a tenant.
Whale said township staff will draft a response to Culp’s letter. Sinnamon said she could send the draft letter to councillors for their approval before sending it.
Givens added the meters, which are new and are now expected to be installed next spring, “will be a learning experience for everyone.”
Council agreed that was the best way to answer Culp’s letter.
