Individual Water Meters: Tenants in France
As a tenant in France, understanding how individual water meters work helps you control your charges and avoid disputes. This guide explains, in plain language, how consumption is recorded, who must pay installation or reading fees, and what steps to take if you notice an anomaly. You will find practical advice to keep evidence, deadlines to respect and competent bodies to contact, with references to the rules applicable under French law. The goal: to give you concrete steps to defend your tenant rights and resolve a dispute without unnecessary complexity.
Understanding individual water meters
An individual water meter measures the consumption of a dwelling separately from the rest of the building. According to French regulations and the lease agreement, installation and cost allocation may vary between tenant, landlord or condominium.[1] Readings are used to calculate charges if the lease provides for billing based on actual consumption or allocated shares.
Who pays and how is the charge calculated?
- Allocation of payment (payment): check your lease to know whether the amount is your responsibility or included in recoverable charges by the landlord.
- Readings and evidence (document): keep photos, dated entries and timestamped readings to dispute a bill.
- Leaks and repairs (repair): repairing internal piping may be the landlord's responsibility if it affects habitability or structural integrity.
Procedure in case of dispute or meter change
If you dispute a reading, a bill or the installation of an individual meter, start by writing to the landlord specifying the facts and attaching your evidence. If discussions do not succeed, request conciliation from the Commission départementale de conciliation (CDC) or, as a last resort, bring the matter before the tribunal judiciaire. Before any litigation, reread the lease clauses and keep a record of communications and readings.[2]
Key takeaways
- Keep a file of all readings and exchanges with the landlord.
- Check your lease to know how charges are divided and billed.
- If necessary, use the CDC and the tribunal judiciaire to resolve a dispute.
FAQ
- Who pays for installing an individual water meter?
- Responsibility depends on the lease and condominium decisions; check the contract and ask the landlord for clarification.
- How do I dispute a reading or water bill?
- Gather your evidence (photos, readings), write to the landlord, then contact the CDC if necessary before any legal action.
- What if there is a leak or no hot water?
- Notify the landlord immediately and request the repair; if habitability is affected, the law requires the landlord to restore the condition.
How to
- Contact the landlord in writing to report the problem and request a reading or intervention (contact).
- Gather evidence: photos, dates, readings and all correspondence (document).
- Send a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt if no reply is given (form).
- Refer the matter to the Commission départementale de conciliation, then the tribunal judiciaire if conciliation fails (court).
Help and resources
- Lease agreement template — Service-public
- Inventory and evidence — Service-public
- Legislative texts (1989 law) — Legifrance
