If you are buying a home in Welland, you will be shelling out an extra 50 dollars.
Council has approved a new water meter inspection fee.
City officials say although the inspection will cost $50.00 for the homeowner, it’ s a precautionary measure to ensure water meters on newly purchased homes are in working order and
have not been tampered with.
The new homeowner will not be held accountable as long as an inspection has been performed by City of Welland staff.
City Treasurer, Steve Zorbas, believes that the water meter inspection will save new homeowners from paying water meter tampering fees.
He says the city has received concerns from residents who have purchased new homes, and they claim that the tampering was done by a previous owner, yet they are the
ones being penalized for the water meter tampering fee.
The new water meter inspection fee service takes effect January 1, 2016.
Prior to any property closing date, the purchaser should ensure the seller contact City of Welland staff to make an appointment to have the water meter inspected, and determine if there has been any tampering.
If staff concludes the meter is tampered with, they will replace the water meter immediately at that time and invoice the seller prior to the closing date.
The Water Meter Inspection Fee of $50.00 is for properties with closing dates of January 1, 2016 and on.
The fee covers City Staff to inspect the water meter prior to closing and also includes a final meter reading on the closing date.