Shared water/sewage bill in a 2-unit duplex

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Shared water/sewage bill in a 2-unit duplex

Account Closed
Cleveland, OH · Member since 2015 · 2 posts · 0 votes

Hi. I am a tenant so I hope I can still ask a question on this website. I live in a single family house that was converted into 2 apartment units (top and bottom). I live alone with my 18 month old son. My down stairs neighbors are a couple and also have an 18 month old son. Our water bill is split evenly 50/50 every quarter. I feel this is very unfair and perhaps illegal? I am pretty sure that I use a lot less water than the other tenants do. I do less laundry, I rarely wash dishes because I never cook to create dishes, My showers last 5 minutes and my son is bathed every 3 days. How could I approach my landlord with my concern? I have read previous posts on here and learned a little about the possibility of RUBS. Can anyone explain more regarding that? Any suggestions on how to rectify this issue so that I am paying for ONLY the water that I am consuming? Thanks.

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Christopher Brainard
Rental Property Investor · Rockwall, TX · Member since 2015 · 891 posts · 701 votes
11y

@Account Closed

The only question here is, what does your lease say? There isn't anything illegal going on here and I wouldn't even classify this as unfair, unless the lease says there is some other arrangement. Also, I should point out that your official measurement of water consumption (feeling) won't hold up in any court. 

-Christopher

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  • Nicole A.Pro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Baltimore County Maryland and Tampa Florida · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    11y

    Typically when there are not separate meters for a multi-unit property, that utility is "included" in the rent. I'm unsure, though, if what your landlord is currently doing would be considered illegal. I look forward to hearing from others on this.

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  • Ron S.
    Paradise, CA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 871 votes
    11y

    The only thing wrong with this arrangement is that you don't like it. You can move if you don't like it. I have property with one meter and I pay for the water bill with a bump to their base rent. "Unfair" to you may be "The way it is" to the landlord. It's not like you didn't know this going into the agreement or, did this somehow change after you rented the unit? If it did, that's another story. If you knew this going in and now just don't like it, I would say you are the one that is going to have to adjust as asking the landlord to compensate you after the fact, so that you feel things are fair, isn't....fair.

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  • Scott Weaner
    Rental Property Investor · Yardley, PA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 561 votes
    11y

    I think that it is unfair. I do split the water/sewer for my properties that are not sub-metered, but I do it per capita. 

    So, in your case, you would pay 2/5 of the bill and the other tenant would pay 3/5. The problem that you have is that I assume that you signed a lease with the 50% split written. Probably can't do much about it until you renew the lease.

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  • Christopher Brainard
    Rental Property Investor · Rockwall, TX · Member since 2015 · 891 posts · 701 votes
    11y

    @Account Closed

    The only question here is, what does your lease say? There isn't anything illegal going on here and I wouldn't even classify this as unfair, unless the lease says there is some other arrangement. Also, I should point out that your official measurement of water consumption (feeling) won't hold up in any court. 

    -Christopher

    1Reply
  • Ceril S.Pro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Ithaca, NY · Member since 2014 · 180 posts · 80 votes
    11y

    It does all come down to the lease, however, if you like the apartment and want to stay there, I do suggest talking to the landlord.  We do bill back our tenants, but we use a square footage and per capita calculation.   You may not hear what you want to, but it is worth that conversation.  If you don't feel that you can have a conversation with your landlord about it, then, there are other issues at hand.  The bottom line is that a lease is a legal contract, but even with that being said, you could request a change at the renewal.

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  • Account Closed
    OP
    Cleveland, OH · Member since 2015 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    11y

    wow. Someone is really obsessed with me. That is disgusting. I am on her mind 24/7.

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  • Ben JacobsBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2017 · 37 posts · 10 votes
    2y

    RUBS is a pragmatic way to go about things. Simply take the total bill x total occupant ratio. So if the bill is $1000 and 10 people occupy (including children) you can use ratios such as;

    Quadplex (4-Unit) example:

    2/10 = $200

    3/10 = $300

    1/10 = $100

    4/10 = $400

    In my opinion, this is the most practical approach rather than sqft, because the size of the unit isn't necessarily indicative of how much water is used.  

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  • Alecia LovelessPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    2y

    @Account Closed I guess maybe I’m just a little more old school but in my neck of the woods it’s just customary for the landlord to pay for the water and sewer.

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