Be the change...

"If you think you’re too small to make a change, try sleeping in bed with a mosquito." -  Anita Roddick

This quote ain’t new.  While there’s much truth to it, and while it’s inspirational, it’s often forgotten or overshadowed by the bigger picture.

You might not be able to completely change the world but you can at least start with your own backyard.  And there’s no better time than the present to do so.  Not only is it easier to make changes when they are small, but you can be confident changes close to home are ones you can affect, ones you can control.

Hence, no matter where you’re at in life, you can always make a change.  Everyone will make different changes, and while they may be different, collectively a greater good is still achieved, which then trickles onto others.  I hold the domino effect in high regard.  

Using a keepcup, carrying a reusable bottle, living car-free, are some of the changes I‘ve made.  But it doesn’t stop here, nor should it ever stop, as we and the world are constantly evolving.

So where to now?  Assess your surroundings, your environment.  Change to GreenPower, too expensive? Change to Red Energy who sources renewable energy.  Use less water but you like your long showers, so do something else instead.  Grow your own veggies but you’re not a gardener, then don’t torture yourself into thinking that you are.  So I ask the question again, where to now?

Well, I do own an investment property.  A rental where I pay the tenant’s water bill.  You see it’s an old school apartment, one of twelve.  An apartment block with one meter, hence the reason for divving up the water bill.  Unless each apartment has its own water meter, it will always be the responsibility of the landlord to pay the water bill.  This piece isn’t actually a rant about paying the tenants water bill, as one could easily combat this by increasing the rent.  The real issue is however, that if the tenant isn’t paying the water bill, then they don’t have any regard for water saving.  While this is purely an assumption, the fact that the water bill of the 3 bedroom house I share is much less than the 1 bedroom apartment I lease, convinces me I’m not way off.   Tenants clearly don’t care about their water usage and frankly why would they, since they aren’t the ones paying for it.

So rather than let it be, I decided to effect change.  I attended the body corporate AGM and added water meters to the AGM agenda.

For those in similar boats, here’s a template passed on from one concerned landlord to another....  I welcome you to tweak it, use it and share it.

"As you are aware currently the water bill is split 12 ways, as you are also aware the cost of water has been rapidly increasing over the last few years and will continue to go up.

The benefit of individual water meters is each owner will have total control of their own water usage.

Owners that have their units leased will be able to pass the supply charges directly to their tenants, the supply charges are around $450 per year and climbing, so they will see a ROI in less than 1 ½ years.

I consider the supply charges on the high side, I have multiple family members living in houses in South East water areas, whom supply charges are less than the 12 way split I receive. Tenants clearly don’t care about their water usage, and frankly why would they, they aren’t the ones paying for it.

For owner occupied units that take holidays or live alone will see a much low yearly supply charge."
 

All arguments point to a win-win situation, so if it’s just simply sending off an email or making a call, don’t you think it’s worth it?  It sure can’t get any simpler than this to make a change.