Average water bill for an apartment complex paid by landlord

Average water bill for an apartment complex paid by landlord

Dustin KircherPro Member
Flipper/Rehabber · San Diego, CA · Member since 2015 · 22 posts · 15 votes

Hello,

I am putting together my first development project which will be a 10 unit apartment building complex in San Diego, California which we will then hold as a rental. I have all the number for construction, management, insurance, etc etc. However I am stumped on what water usage would roughly cost. The units would be 2 bed 1 bathroom. I know water rate vary by county and city but any insight would be much appreciated.

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Real Estate Agent · Louisville, KY · Member since 2015 · 54 posts · 12 votes
10y

We have 12 units all  2 bedroom 1 bathroom in KY and pay $800-$1000 for water every other month. Each unit has laundry and several families with children. 

Good luck!

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  • Real Estate Agent · Louisville, KY · Member since 2015 · 54 posts · 12 votes
    10y

    We have 12 units all  2 bedroom 1 bathroom in KY and pay $800-$1000 for water every other month. Each unit has laundry and several families with children. 

    Good luck!

  • Dustin KircherPro Member
    OP
    Flipper/Rehabber · San Diego, CA · Member since 2015 · 22 posts · 15 votes
    10y

    Thank you @Emmy K. 

  • Investor · Houston, TX · Member since 2016 · 25 posts · 10 votes
    10y

    I've got a 48 unit in Houston that has 16 1/1 and 32 2/1 and the average for the last year was $22.71/unit/mo.  Each of those units has a stackable w/d but we have almost no families with children and no onsite laundry.

  • Dustin KircherPro Member
    OP
    Flipper/Rehabber · San Diego, CA · Member since 2015 · 22 posts · 15 votes
    10y

    That is a great help @Bill Spell !! Thank you

  • Real Estate Investor · Rancho Santa Fe , CA · Member since 2016 · 323 posts · 107 votes
    10y
    Yeah I have stuff in San Diego also we should connect my Multifamily in San Marcos paid average 27$ per unit
  • Dustin KircherPro Member
    OP
    Flipper/Rehabber · San Diego, CA · Member since 2015 · 22 posts · 15 votes
    10y

    Thanks @Account Closed I will connect with you shortly!!

  • Real Estate Consultant · Camarillo, CA · Member since 2010 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    I am sure that a call to the local water company will get you some results.  They should be able to give you ball park numbers.

  • Investor · Ogdensburg, WI · Member since 2016 · 273 posts · 351 votes
    10y

    Our 2/1s range from 25-37 per unit. without laundry. Laundry is on the house meter. Not many families though.

  • Developer · San Diego, CA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Yo @Dustin Kircher! If it's in the City of SD, you're going to be required to put in sub-meters for each unit.  That said, my units with no outdoor watering average about 35 gallons per person per day.  Water and sewer together is a tad over $0.01 per gallon in SD.  So, do the math based on occupancy.

    And, get ready for a very bitter pill when you go to pay those water and district fees on those new units.  Ouch.

  • Real Estate Agent · Sisters, OR · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    15 1 bedrooms in Oregon (we have more water then the Pacific Ocean).  I pay 1k a month for sewer and water.

  • Dustin KircherPro Member
    OP
    Flipper/Rehabber · San Diego, CA · Member since 2015 · 22 posts · 15 votes
    10y

    @Justin R. I was aware of the sub meters however not sure of the water and district fee's. What cost are you seeing when paying for those? I have allocated a good budget for "Soft Costs" which I would put those fee's into. Thanks for the help!!

  • USA · Member since 2014 · 43 posts · 13 votes
    10y

    @Dustin Kircher

    My 6-unit in SD has averaged about $600 for water & sewer over the last year. Billed every other month.

  • Developer · San Diego, CA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Dustin Kircher:

    @Justin R. I was aware of the sub meters however not sure of the water and district fee's. What cost are you seeing when paying for those? I have allocated a good budget for "Soft Costs" which I would put those fee's into. Thanks for the help!!

    Some variability, but based on fees current as of 2/2016, expect:

    Water Capacity per unit: $3047

    Sewer Capacity per unit: $4124

    CWA Fees: $7666 (this is for a new 1" meter - more expensive for larger capacity meters)

    Other soft costs include ROW (right of way) permit fees to dig up the street and attach to the water and sewer mains.  Design and permit processing for that will probably run about $2k.

    You're probably already planning for horizontal costs on the water and sewer main install.  The Class A work in the public right shouldn't be surprising if it's in the $15k range.  Then, everything on your property including backflow and fire riser hookup, and the sub-meters.

    If your project is in one of the planned districts, you'll get a fee per unit from that.  In my last project, that was $4k per unit to the Urban Planned District (forgot what it was technically called).

    Can't wait to hear more about the project next time I run into you!

  • Dustin KircherPro Member
    OP
    Flipper/Rehabber · San Diego, CA · Member since 2015 · 22 posts · 15 votes
    10y

    Thank you @Justin R. for the insight!!

  • Anthony GaydenPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Omaha, NE · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    10y

    @Dustin Kircher

    4 Unit in Phoenix. My water bill is $220 - $250 a month. Units are 2 bed, 1 bath, 800 sq. feet. 

    I'm not sure if that is useful or not considering costs vary throughout the country. Can't you look at similar sized units for sale in San Diego and find out what the current owner paid for water last year? Without a doubt he claimed it on his taxes. I know I did. 

  • Dustin KircherPro Member
    OP
    Flipper/Rehabber · San Diego, CA · Member since 2015 · 22 posts · 15 votes
    10y
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