TAKEAWAY Boards should ensure strict compliance with bylaw provisions relating to sub-metering and billing practices, especially when commercial units are involved. Consider what typically happens: A board may assume that sub-meters are functioning properly, bills are allocated correctly, and that everyone understands their responsibilities. Then reality strikes. The commercial unit on the ground floor had been drawing extraordinary water usage for years without proper accounting, and the board came to the belated realization that the residential owners had been unwittingly subsidizing a business operation. Boards and managing agents should periodically walk the building, clipboard in hand, and verify that every required submeter isn't just installed but actually working. Additionally, any general releases that seem to resolve today's construction disputes could unexpectedly complicate tomorrow's billing disagreement, so it is a best practice to have those carefully reviewed by a professional to ensure clarity regarding future liabilities, and avoid unintended implications for unrelated or future claims.
