Landlord Wants Us To Pay A €2,900 Water Bill For A Leak They Never Investigated – What Are Our Rights?

Location: Veneto, Italy

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice on a surreal situation I’m dealing with while renting a room in an apartment in Veneto, Italy. The apartment is shared between several tenants, and each of us has an individual contract only for our room. The utilities (including water) are in the landlord’s name.

We were recently told that we need to pay a €2,900 water bill (!) covering the period from June 2024 to January 2025, showing a usage of 910 cubic meters. The landlord’s brother, who manages things on her behalf, is pressuring us to find a way to pay it. Here’s what happened:

1. In December 2024, the water company Veritas flagged anomalous consumption. I immediately made myself available for any inspection, but nothing was done until March 2025 when I contacted him asking for a feedback. We don’t know if the landlord initiated any official procedure, but we were never informed of anything.

2. The consumption is clearly incompatible with our actual use of the apartment. None of us was away or using excessive water, and this amount suggests a major leak. But no real checks were ever carried out—at least none that were communicated to us.

3. The landlord’s brother asked us to advance €300 for a Veritas technician to come, while also telling us “it’s useless” because “nothing can be done”, according to him.

4. Instead, a so-called “technician” who is a friend of the family came by. We later learned that this person has a reputation for being unprofessional: texting my roommates inviting them for drinks. He did not conduct any real inspection—or at least we were never told what he did.

5. I personally went to check the water meter: when all taps are off, it’s not moving, which suggests no ongoing leak. Still, this doesn’t explain the past consumption.

6. While I was in Brazil visiting family, I got WhatsApp photos of the bill with a message saying: “Talk to my sister and figure out how to pay.” I replied, telling him the whole situation is unclear and non-transparent, and that we cannot be held responsible for such a massive bill without proper explanation.

7. He claimed he spoke with Veritas and there’s “nothing to be done.” When I asked for proof of this contact—like a written response, PEC (certified email), or any official correspondence—he just said it was a phone call. I told him a phone call means nothing to us, since anyone can say anything. He ignored that completely.

8. Then he accused us of being “uncooperative” and “always closing the door,” when in reality he is the one who never keeps us informed.

9. A few days later, I was contacted on WhatsApp by the “technician”, who asked me what I had said about him. I had never spoken to this man before, nor given him my phone number. It felt like an attempt to intimidate me.

I’ve already contacted Veritas and ARERA (the Italian energy/water regulation authority) and sent them all the documents I have. I’m also considering reaching out to a tenants’ rights association.

Our rental contract says utilities are the tenant’s responsibility, but the accounts are under the landlord’s name. It also states that minor maintenance is our duty, but extraordinary maintenance is theirs.

My questions:

• Can we be held liable for a water bill like this, when the utilities are under their name and we weren’t even informed of the issue when it was first flagged?

• Isn’t a hidden or unaddressed leak the landlord’s responsibility?

• Are we within our rights to ask for proof of communication with Veritas and refuse to pay until that’s provided?

• What’s the best way to protect ourselves legally from this pressure?

Any help would be appreciated—especially from anyone familiar with tenant laws in Italy or similar situations in other countries.

Thanks so much in advance!