Condominium water meters: who pays for replacement

The answer depends on which meter is being replaced. The main water meter, the one on the supply contract in the condominium's name, is common property: its replacement is split among all the owners served, as a rule by thousandths (millesimi) or by consumption. Sub-meters, that is those measuring the consumption of a single unit, are instead private and paid by the owner of that unit. Distinguishing the two cases is the first step to understanding who pays. Let us look at the details.

The main meter is common property

The common water system, from the aqueduct intake to the branches towards the individual units, is among the common property indicated by Article 1117 of the Italian Civil Code. The main meter, which records the building's overall consumption and is linked to the supply contract in the condominium's name, is part of this common system. Its replacement, when needed due to a fault, age or a request from the water utility, is therefore a condominium expense.

Allocation follows Article 1123, first paragraph, of the Italian Civil Code, that is by thousandths, or the consumption criterion if the meeting has adopted it for water costs. Since the main meter serves everyone indiscriminately, allocation by thousandths is the most consistent for the cost of the device itself.

Sub-meters are private

Sub-meters measure the water consumption of the single unit and serve to split the common bill according to real consumption. These devices are, as a rule, the property of the individual owner, because they are installed to serve their unit exclusively. Their replacement due to a fault or end of life therefore falls on the owner of the unit concerned, not on the condominium community.

There is an exception to assess case by case: if the meeting decides to install or renew all sub-meters at once as part of a single reading and allocation project, the cost may be managed at condominium level and split among all the units involved, because the work serves the common metering system. In this case too the choice must be resolved and recorded in the minutes.

The three typical situations

In summary, who pays for the meter replacement depends on its nature:

• condominium main meter: common expense, allocated by thousandths among all those served;
• sub-meter of a single unit: private expense of the owner of that unit;
• block renewal of all sub-meters resolved by the meeting: condominium expense split among the units involved.

Who pays: owner or tenant

When the unit is rented out, replacing the meter is extraordinary in nature and remains with the owner, not the tenant. The tenant is instead responsible for costs linked to use and consumption, that is the water bill and any periodic readings, which are accessory charges typical of rentals. Towards the condominium, for common expenses, the party liable for payment is always the owner under Article 63 of the implementing provisions.

Splitting water by consumption or by thousandths

Replacing the meters is often linked to the choice of criterion for allocating the water cost. Allocation by actual consumption, made possible by sub-meters, is generally the fairest, but it requires reliable readings and orderly data management. The meeting may adopt this criterion for water while keeping thousandths for the common system costs. The resolution must clearly state which criterion applies to which item, to avoid disputes.

How to manage readings and allocation without mistakes

Recording sub-meter readings, calculating consumption and correctly splitting between the common part by thousandths and individual consumption is an activity that easily generates errors by hand. With AmministraPro the manager sets the allocation criterion for each item, manages the readings and automatically produces the shares for the owner and the use costs attributable to the tenant. To see how consumption-based allocation and common expense accounting work you can review /funzioni and assess the plans on /prezzi.