Which utilities do you pay as landlord?

Question

Newbie question here:  as a landlord, which utilities do YOU pay versus your tenants pays (has the service in their name)?

I'm planning on SFHs near my own home, so here's what I'm thinking (but please correct me if I've got it wrong or you want to discuss pros and cons)

Electricity - tenant

Water - ?

Gas - tenant

HOA - landlord

Lawn Service - landlord (will probably be me doing it)

Other - ?

Thanks everyone!

Daniel Tanasa · Answer

Hey Victoria,

You want to have everything on the tenant. The only scenario when water for example will be in your name is if you have a duplex and you don't have it separately metered. But if you have the option, everything should be tenant's responsibility, including lawn.  HOA will be on you, this is similar with taxes and insurance.

Good luck!

Gustavo Delgado · Answer

None. Water/gas/electric all fall on the tenant. Landscaping as well or create a landscaping fee so you can maintain it yourself. HOA that's on you, just factor that in to your rent.

Ned Carey · Answer

@Victoria C. it depends on the property. Generally I want the tenant to be responsible for all utilities. However there are cases where we pay for some. An example would be a 2 unit with only 1 water meter - we pay the water on that one.

While I have no properties with Condo or HOA fees, I would expect to pay them, just like I pay the mortgage

Becca F. · Answer

For one of my properties, I also pay for trash/recycle and sewer. The city will only allow the owner to pay because they said if a tenant stops paying, they will put a lien on the house.

I add the cost onto the base rent. It's a fixed amount but goes up about every 3 years or so.

Theresa Harris · Answer

It depends on what gets passed on to the owner if the tenant fails to pay.  HOA is always the owner.  My tenants pay water, but they reimburse me when I get the bill. Everything else (electric, gas), the tenants pay themselves.

Caleb Brown · Answer

Water, electricity, gas are tenant(unless utilities aren't separate or a voucher program). For single families lawn is usually taken care of by the tenant, I would have language in the lease. HOA is landlord(I'd avoid HOAs)