WASA: It is no idle threat

UPDATED:

It is not an idle threat. The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has the legislative power to seize your home and sell it for unpaid water rates.

Two senior lawyers who specialise in commercial law and who chose not to go on record for professional reasons, having either represented the authority in the past or being involved in litigation against it, pointed to the WASA Act and the Rates and Charges Recovery Act, which give the authority the power to go after bad debtors.

On Tuesday, WASA chairman Romney Thomas warned that the authority will sell the properties of its most recalcitrant commercial and residential customers in the next stage of debt collection. He said at present errant customers owe the authority over $500 million. Thomas also said WASA had the power to sell properties under the Rates and Charges Recovery Act. According to the WASA Act, rates payable may be recoverable under the Rates and Charges Recovery Act, either summarily, by a civil debt, or a simple contract debt in any court. The Rates and Charges Recovery Act provides for the authority to levy, by distress, any rates and charges in arrears and unpaid. The act also says this can be done if the rates or charges are unpaid for more than three months.