523. If the expenses referred to in section 522 are due in respect of some work executed or thing done to, upon or in connexion with, some building or land or of some measure taken with respect to some building or land in respect of a private street and the defaulter is the owner of such building or land or of the premises fronting or adjoining such street or abutting thereon, as the case may be, the amount thereof may be demanded from any person who at any time, before the said expenses have been paid, occupied the said building, land or premises under the said owner and in the event of the said person failing to pay the same, they may be recovered by distress and sale of the movable property or the attachment and sale of the immovable property of the said person, as if the amount thereof were a property-tax due by him :
Provided that -
(a) unless the said person neglects or refuses at the request of the [Municipal Commissioner] truly to disclose the amount of the rent payable by him in respect of the said building or premises and the name and address of the person to whom the same is payable, the said person shall not be liable to pay on account of the said expenses any larger sum than, up to the time of demand, is payable by him to the owner on account of rent of the said building, land or premises ; but it shall rest upon the said person to prove that the amount of the expenses demanded of him is in excess of the sum payable by him to the owner ;
(b) the said persons shall be entitled to credit in account with the owner for any sum paid by or recovered from him on account of the said expenses ;
(c) nothing in this section shall affect any agreement made between the said person and the owner of the building, land or premises in his occupation respecting the payment of the expenses of any such work, thing or measure as aforesaid.