Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 30, 2010 2:01 pm Just after some advice... During the earlier stages of construction our water meter (and boundary pegs, and gas pipe, and so on...) was obliterated by thoughtless contractors driving willy nilly over the site frontage. It was since replaced. Today we got a letter asking us to verify we wanted a variation.. the variation being "replace damaged water meter $230". My first reaction is... not printable on this forum . Surely if the building company or a contractor it employs damages something, it's up to them to wear the costs of repair? In fact I would have thought even if the damage was done by an unknown party, the building company has responsibility for the property and everything on it during the construction period, does it not? Not happy... going to ring up and have a spray--- but would like to know the legal background before I do so. Thanks in advance for your replies "Now, supposing a house to have a southern aspect, sunshine during winter will steal in under the verandah, but in summer, when the sun traverses a path right over our heads, the roof will afford an agreeable shade, will it not?" -- Socrates, ca. 400 BC Re: Help, who pays for damaged water meter 2Jul 30, 2010 2:18 pm Maybe give the council a call Russell? I know with my builder in WA if the water meter is stolen I have to pay for it! Silly really, they should be in charge of everything! Garden - viewtopic.php?f=19&t=44214&p=670323#p670323 Decorating - viewtopic.php?f=6&t=47218&p=715743#p715743 Re: Help, who pays for damaged water meter 3Jul 30, 2010 3:22 pm Have you been been charged for a new water meter, or repairs to pipework or both? which side of the stop tap was damaged? was it on both sides, as in, did you have water squirting up out of the ground like in the movies..??!! Basically from a legal point and forgetting about the builder for a moment, either you are responsible or your water authority is responsible for maintaining your water service, meter, pipework etc.... Generally and it depends from water authority to water authority, the main stop tap or 1/4 turn ball valve and water meter is where the responsiblity from them to you starts and finishes. I would enquire with them where this line is drawn, and also ask them that if hypothetically if you did need to get a new meter because one was damaged, would you have to pay a fee for that?....what about having it fitted? They will have no interest in your dispute with the builder. They are only interested in making sure the water supply is safe and that people are paying for it. Hi Russell, assuming you are in Central Victoria, i would think that your water authority is perhaps Goulbourn Valley Water..?? is so try 1800 454 500 Property Services. i agree with you 100% on who should pay, the spray however is indeed up to you.!!! more than happy to fork out when i muck up, so i believe others should too. good luck and keep us posted Re: Help, who pays for damaged water meter 4Jul 30, 2010 3:49 pm Thanks guys, I rang GV Water and the lady said the owner is indeed responsible for the cost (not the builder or GVW). The lady was also most helpful in looking up on the system to find that no meter has been replaced so far, she gave me the serial number of the initial meter and it matches the one there at the moment. It seems to be in working order to me. There is a small chip of plastic missing off a little dust cover on top of what I assume is some kind of relief valve (on downstream side of meter). That would be a 50 c piece of plastic and 10 seconds of labour... hard to believe it could be $220 + GST!?!? About to ring builder, wish me luck . "Now, supposing a house to have a southern aspect, sunshine during winter will steal in under the verandah, but in summer, when the sun traverses a path right over our heads, the roof will afford an agreeable shade, will it not?" -- Socrates, ca. 400 BC Re: Help, who pays for damaged water meter 5Jul 30, 2010 7:39 pm mmm I thought if it happened during construction the builder is liable?? our water meter got stolen during construction, no-onenoticed, so once we moved in and south east water came round to read it, they discovered it gone. after a few letters to us and some phone calls to Simonds, Simonds agreed that they were liable and paid for a new one. I didn't have to argue or anything, just prove it was put in after site start so the site was effectively SImonds property. Caz & Co ALL MOVED IN!! Now comes all the hard work-decorating.... [b]Blog: http://cazoraz.blogspot.com/ Settling in Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36993 Re: Help, who pays for damaged water meter 6Jul 30, 2010 8:24 pm The contract for water supply is between you and the water authority, so tha would be why from their point of view, you're responsible. But beyond that, you handed over control of the site to the builder on signing of your building contract, and any damage by them or their contractors is their problem. Our water meter was stolen after site start (all the meters in our street were stolen ) and we didn't do a thing about getting it replaced. The builder organised it, even though it certainly wasn't their fault. I've no idea who paid in that particualr situation, but it certainly wasn't us. Re: Help, who pays for damaged water meter 7Jul 30, 2010 9:16 pm Hmmm, thanks for that. Boss had knocked off for the day so I will have to ring back Monday. Generally this mob are pretty straight up but I'm so sick of waiting weeks between any action on the house, I'm not so inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt. "Now, supposing a house to have a southern aspect, sunshine during winter will steal in under the verandah, but in summer, when the sun traverses a path right over our heads, the roof will afford an agreeable shade, will it not?" -- Socrates, ca. 400 BC Re: Help, who pays for damaged water meter 8Jul 31, 2010 9:51 am Our water meter was broken by one of the builders workers when they were doing the foundations. We never got a bill for it so assume that the builder ended up paying for their mistake - as I think they should. It's hard to comment as the photos area bit dark ( you might need a new 15 - just got one and wow ) Jokes aside, I can see one member that is cracked. 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