Plumbing repairs in NSW rentals: what landlords and tenants should know

Which plumbing faults are urgent repairs, when a tenant can call a plumber, who pays for water, and how shared pipes work in strata and older semis.

A plumber answers 24/7.

Key takeaways

A burst water service, a blocked or broken toilet, a gas leak, a hot water failure and a fitting wasting a lot of water are all urgent repairs under NSW tenancy rules.
If a tenant cannot reach the landlord or agent about an urgent repair, they can arrange it and be reimbursed up to one thousand dollars, and should use a licensed tradesperson.
Landlords pay all water and sewerage service charges. Usage can only be passed on if the property is separately metered and meets the water efficiency rules.
Plumbers must give written notice of defects they find to the owner, and to the occupier when the owner does not live there.