Backflow testing costs: Tenant or Landlord (Portland OR)

[Pranitha Shandi]

My tenant in Portland, OR just received a note about Backflow testing in Sept 2020 and the water utility company asking to sign up ($35 annual cost).

While water as a utility is their responsibility, I did not have any reference to Backflow in my Lease/Utility addendums.

What do you typically do with your tenants?

Choice 1: Landlord/Owner pays for the test ($35) and any additional costs for the repair/replacement repair/replacement found during the test

Choice 2: Tenant pays for the test (typically $35) and Landlord/Owner pays for any repair/replacement found during the test

Choice 3 (unlikely choice): Tenant pays for both test and any repair/replacement found during the testing.

About the Backflow testing Gold Plan (TVWD)

https://www.tvwd.org/water-quality/page/residential-annual-backflow-assembly-testing-service-gold-plan