Robert Haslett has been held responsible for a water bill belonging to another individual. In March, he received a notification from the city informing him that $499.79 in charges was being transferred to his account for a property he owns in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighborhood. This amount included four months of overdue water charges, along with accrued interest.
The outstanding charges date back to 2017, predating Haslett’s ownership of the property, and he was only recently informed by the city. Haslett expressed frustration at not being given the chance to settle the original bill or dispute it at the time. Unlike typical utilities, unpaid water charges are linked to the property rather than the individual, passing on to the new owner after a property sale. However, the process is not straightforward. Before applying arrears to the new owner, the city must first attempt to collect from the previous owner.
In this instance, the previous owner passed away six years ago, a fact easily ascertainable through online records. Haslett quickly confirmed the death with his lawyer and questioned why it took the city so long to discover this information. He is seeking clarity on the breakdown of the $499.79 charge, particularly the portion attributed to interest and late fees versus the previous owner’s water consumption.
The city has cited privacy laws as the reason for withholding specifics about the previous owner’s account, advising Haslett to pursue a freedom of information request, a process that incurs costs and time. The city’s interest calculation formula has been shared, indicating that over eight years, arrears of approximately $150 would accumulate around $350 in interest, totaling $500.
While the city has mentioned collaborating with Haslett to provide information on the property, Haslett claims he has not received such cooperation. He expressed dissatisfaction at the lack of transparency and the city’s refusal to provide detailed information or invoices, insisting on their right to impose the charges on property taxes if left unpaid.
Rita Asangarani, a specialized Ottawa lawyer, acknowledged that new property owners facing overdue water charges are not uncommon, but an eight-year delay is highly unusual. The city did not respond to queries regarding the prolonged delay in notifying Haslett of the charges or the failure to confirm the previous owner’s death. Asangarani recommended utilizing title insurance to address the issue effectively.
Haslett believes it is unjust to rely on title insurance due to the city’s prolonged handling of the matter and is contemplating legal action. He emphasized the importance of the principle involved and expressed concern that others in similar situations might lack the means to challenge such issues.