Rental question: who pays for metered water?

[widebody911]

The last time I rented a house, the water, sewer & garbage were paid; I only paid for the gas & electricity. A friend of mine is renting out her house, and her water is metered; does the tenant pay the water bill, or how is this handled? The concern is if the tenant goes nuts and runs up a huge water bill - how is it covered? This is in California, FWIW.

[cgarr]

It depends, does he want the lawn green or brown?

[MarKoBrow]

In Pa I pay for water sewer and taxes of course maintenance I have never heard of a tenant paying for their water usage but then again can't speak for other landlords or what happens in CA

[legion]

It depends on you rental agreement. I've seen both.

My old apartment building had one meter for the whole building. Water was part of the lease.

I have friends in apartments with individual water meters. They pay the water bill. Certainly much easier for the landlord that way.

[herr_oberst]

Back in the day, (when I was landlordin') I picked up water/sewer and trash collection. Seemed to be the expected thing to do.

[Mike C]

I have 4 rental home & the tenants pay all utilities & trash. I would never think of being responsible for their bills.

[Joeaksa]

Do they have a pool or big yard? Sprinkler system or ?

I have a pool so the cost is not cheap, but then not that bad either. Believe mine is something like $22 a month but then trash and so on is included in that.

All depends on the above and what is agreed upon when they sign the contract.

[chapo]

California the owner is supposed to pay, but I've rented houses in the past where they said I had to pay it.

[gr8fl4porsche]

On single family homes, the tenants should be responsible for all utilities including water,sewer, trash, etc.

Multifamily rental generally includes w-s-t since there typically is only one service and it would be impractical to determine would used which portion.

[Tobra]

In the end, if they don't pay, how much will it cost you to get it turned back on? I let them know if they are using too much, but always paid for the water myself.

[GWN7]

Phone the water utility to find out what the rules are.

Here the tenent is suppost to pay the bill. If they walk out the bill, it gets added to the house taxes.

[TRE Cup]

My parents' North Hollywood, CA 8 unit apt building has one water meter, one large water heater. They pay for water, hot water, trash collection, clean up of the exterior, and usual maintainance.
You cannot charge for something that is not quantifiable . If each unit has a meter, like the natural gas, then the tenant can pay that utility directly. Otherwise the property owner pays and compensates for it in rental rates

[fastfredracing]

We make all of our tenants pay for their water. Water is expensive in Pgh. Why should you pay for their water usage??.
Here in Pa., the water bill is the only bill that is lienable. If the tenant skips out on the water bill, we absoloutely have to pay for it , or they can put a lean on our property. We watch the water bills closely and make sure that they are getting paid.

[ben parrish]

My tenenat pays water. No sewer..septic system. Not my responsibility to pay their utilities. I pay the taxes and assesmments which cost over $2300.00 a year for a 2/2 in a gated, golf commmunnity.

[vash]

Originally Posted by TRE Cup

My parents' North Hollywood, CA 8 unit apt building has one water meter, one large water heater. They pay for water, hot water, trash collection, clean up of the exterior, and usual maintainance.
You cannot charge for something that is not quantifiable . If each unit has a meter, like the natural gas, then the tenant can pay that utility directly. Otherwise the property owner pays and compensates for it in rental rates

exactly..no hard set rules on this one.

i have had it both ways. at one home, the landlord had decent landscaping and the sprinklers on timer. he paid all the water bills, and for the gardener.

my oakland home. the yard looked like a square of death..i paid the waterbill..no gardener.

[widebody911]

Thanks for the help!

[bell]

I know this varies state to state and also depends on the water provider, in most cases if its a house the renter pays, apartment it's included.
In celebration the utility stays in the property owners name but the renter is added to the account....
In ohio it was the renters responsibility and if it didn't pay it went on their credit.....

[Joe Bob]

I have a well.....God pays for it. I pay for the pump electricity to get pressure....