Ensuring Tenant Access to Clean, Safe Water
From "The Landlord and Tenant Act 2025"
Go to the project
In Bermuda, our reliance on roof-collected rainwater stored in tanks makes water quality a fundamental aspect of housing. For tenants, access to clean and safe water is not merely a matter of convenience—it is a basic right essential to health, dignity, and wellbeing.
Currently, there appears to be no clear legal obligation for landlords to maintain the cleanliness of water tanks and catchment systems in rented properties. This creates a gap that can leave tenants vulnerable to unsafe water conditions caused by neglected maintenance, such as dirty roofs, contaminated tanks, or poorly sealed access covers.
I therefore propose that the Landlord and Tenant Act be amended or clarified to include specific obligations for landlords regarding water system maintenance. This could include the following provisions:
- Maintenance of Roofs and Tanks
- Landlords must ensure that all roofs used for water catchment, gutters, downpipes, and tanks are kept in clean and sanitary condition. Tanks should be inspected and cleaned at least once every two years, or more frequently if contamination is suspected.
- Water Quality Responsibility
- Landlords should be responsible for providing tenants with water that is safe for domestic use, including drinking, cooking, and washing. If a property’s water becomes unsafe due to neglect, the landlord should be required to take immediate corrective action.
- Disclosure and Certification
- Upon commencement of a tenancy, landlords should provide written confirmation of the date of last tank cleaning and any water quality testing performed. This transparency helps protect both tenants and landlords by setting clear expectations.
- Emergency Remediation
- In the event of visible contamination, foul odours, or illness suspected to be water-related, tenants should have the right to request an urgent inspection, with landlords obligated to respond within a reasonable timeframe.
- Public Health Alignment
- These requirements would align with Bermuda’s public health objectives and ensure that the housing standards reflect the realities of our island’s unique water system.
Access to clean water is a public health necessity and a housing standard that must be guaranteed by law. Including these provisions would modernize the Landlord and Tenant Act and affirm the government’s commitment to the wellbeing of all residents.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Myles Darrell
