Indah Water Bill: Is It Paid by The Landlord or The Tenant?

Whether you are the landlord or the tenant, there are many things to consider and be aware of when it comes to home rental. One of the frequently asked questions is who should pay the Indah Water bill for the house. Some believe that the tenant pays it, while some say that it is the responsibility of the homeowner. Let us delve into this much-debated issue!

This article was translated from Bil Indah Water: Tuan Rumah Atau Penyewa Kena Bayar? by Tan Karr Wei

In this article, we will discuss:

• The importance of the rental agreement clause that says who pays the Indah Water bill
• What is the Indah Water billing frequency?
• Indah Water Tariff Charges for 2024
• How to check and pay your Indah Water bill online

The Importance of The Rental Agreement Clause That Says Who Pays the Indah Water Bill

First of all, it is important to understand what we are paying for. Our Indah Water bill is not the same as our monthly water bill, even though both involve water. Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) is Malaysia’s national sewerage company and is tasked to manage the sewerage system in all areas except Sabah and Sarawak. Before 1994, this was managed by local authorities.

Indah Water processes and treats the wastewater that goes through our sewerage system before being discharged into our rivers to avoid water pollution.

So, should the landlord or the tenant be responsible for paying to treat the sewerage water in a rental premise? As with all utilities, this depends on the tenancy agreement signed between both parties. Therefore, it is very important to make sure that it is stated very clearly who pays the Indah Water bill before the tenancy agreement is signed.

An example of a clause that can be included in the tenancy agreement:

“The Tenant shall bear the responsibility to pay Indah Water bills issued during the rental period. Any unpaid bills will be deemed as arrears and therefore deductible from the rental deposit.”

In the case where the landlord pays the Indah Water bill, the clause could look like this:

“The Landlord shall bear the cost of Indah Water services and the billed amount is deemed included in the rental amount agreed between Landlord and Tenant.”

In short, this means that the landlord and tenant can discuss beforehand to decide who will pay the bill. Typically, the bill will be paid by the party that will pay for the rest of the utilities, such as water and electricity.

What Is the Indah Water Billing Frequency?

Indah Water’s billing frequency differs from that of other utilities, which are charged monthly. Indah Water bills for domestic premises and government quarters are issued twice a year, once every six months.

Indah Water Tariff Charges for 2024

Indah Water tariffs depend on the premises’ category. Charges for domestic premises are listed below.

Source: Water Services Industry (Sewerage Services Charges) Regulations 2022

The Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN) website provides more information on sewerage charges for other categories, such as commercial, industrial, and governmental.

How to Check and Pay Your Indah Water Bill Online

Whether paid by the landlord or the tenant, the Indah Water bill can be paid online easily through the IWK customer portal or mobile app. You can check your bill, view your transaction history, and make payments with ease.

Step 1: Account Registration

Before you can check your bill or make a payment, you have to register an online account with IWK:

1. Visit the Indah Water portal at customerportal.iwk.com.my
2. Click on “Register” and fill in your personal details, such as your full name, email address, IC number, and contact number.
3. You will also be required to provide your premise’s “Sewerage Account Number.” The account number is stated on the physical Indah Water bill if you still have an old copy from when IWK used to mail paper bills to customers. If you do not have that, you can contact their hotline at 03-2083 2828 or use the portal’s enquiry form.
4. Once you have entered all your details, click “Proceed” and follow the instructions for registration verification.

Step 2: Account Login

Once you have completed the registration process, you can then log on to your Indah Water account:

1. Return to the Indah Water customer portal and click “Login Now”.
2. Enter your email address and password that you registered with earlier.
3. You might need a verification when logging in for the first time.

Step 3: Check Bill

You can now check your Indah Water bill online:

1. Your account details are under “Member Account” in your account dashboard.
2. Click on “View All Account” to see details of your account(s).
3. Click on “Expand All” to see more options. In this section, you can request a statement or view your transaction history.
4. If there is an outstanding amount, it will be shown here.

Once you have checked your bill through the customer portal or the mobile app, you can proceed to pay your bill online. There are several ways to do this:

Through the Indah Water customer portal

1. Under the “Member Account” section, any outstanding amount will be shown next to your account number.
2. Click on the “Pay Bill” button and proceed with the payment using a credit or debit card, or via FPX online banking.
3. Alternatively, if you do not have a registered Indah Water online account, you can use their payment portal by clicking on “Pay Bill”. You can just enter your sewerage account number and proceed to the payment page.

Through the  Android or iOS mobile app

1. Log on to your IWK account.
2. In the menu, click on “Pay Bill” and follow the instructions for payment.

Through internet banking (JomPAY)

Payment to IWK can also be made through JomPAY on selected online banking systems.

1. Log on to your own online banking account, for example, Ambank, CIMB, Maybank, Public Bank or RHB
2. Select “Pay & Transfer” or “Pay Bills” and select JomPAY
3. In the “Biller” section, enter Biller Code: 68502 (For Maybank and BSN accounts, you can select Indah Water Konsortium from the payee list)
4. In “Ref 1”, enter your Indah Water sewerage account number
5. In “Ref 2”, enter your telephone number or email address
6. Enter the amount to be paid and continue with the payment
7. Follow the instructions from your online banking system to verify payment

Agree on Who Pays the Indah Water Bill

In short, the payment of the Indah Water bill in a rental premise requires a clear agreement between the landlord and the tenant. Both parties need to make it clear from the beginning who should pay the bill, which must be reflected in the tenancy agreement to avoid misunderstandings. 

Communication between the landlord and tenant will ensure that the bill is paid on time. Both parties can discuss any issues that come up, and the bill payment can be monitored at any time through the Indah Water portal.