Important Changes to Tenant Accounts

Due to recent changes to the Code of Virginia §15.2-5139 and §15.2-2119, governing water and sewer systems, Fairfax Water will require two additional items to establish service to tenants (renters), on accounts initiated on or after July 1, 2012.

• The legal recorded property owner or authorized property manager must authorize their tenant to establish service by completing a Tenant Authorization form. Upon receipt of the completed form, Fairfax Water will send written confirmation to the owner once a tenant has initiated service.



• Tenants must submit a Lien Offset payment of $190.00 by cash, money order or check, payable to Fairfax Water (no credit cards accepted). The payment will be held until the tenant’s account is closed and then applied to the final bill.

An owner may endorse a waiver of the payment, if the tenant receives rental assistance from local, state or federal agencies. To do so, attach relevant documentation to the Tenant Authorization form.

Fairfax Water will send the owner a copy of the tenant’s final bill and an additional notice if a balance remains unpaid past 15 days. If we do not receive payment from the tenant and have exhausted collections efforts, we will contact the owner to settle the bill, as the ultimate responsibility rests there. Unpaid debts to Fairfax Water constitute a lien on the property in accordance with the Code, which states the following:

     Such fees and charges, and any penalty and interest thereon, shall constitute a lien against the property, ranking on parity with liens for unpaid taxes.

If you have any questions, please contact us at (703) 698-5800 or customers@fairfaxwater.org, using “Lien Law” in the subject line.

Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, at 8570 Executive Park Avenue in Fairfax, Virginia 22031.

• The form can be scanned and sent to customers@fairfaxwater.org or faxed to (703) 466-6863, but please tell us how/when we will receive the $190.00 and the customer information needed to set up the account.



• The $190.00 can be brought (during office hours or to our night drop box) or mailed to our office address with the form and the customer information needed to set up an account.

The Online form, Open an Account, (located on our Online Account Request Forms web page) will allow you to enter the customer information needed to set up the account and allow you to print the Tenant Authorization form.