How to bill tenant for their water usage after they move out

Question

Tenant was responsible for 100% of the water bill. We pay directly and bill the tenant. The billing cycle does not coincide with the tenant's move-out date. how do you deduct the tenant's share of water from their security deposit?

Andrew B. · Answer

Check the meter reading on prior months bill and check the water meter on the day they move out. Do the math to find out what their usage was and bill them based on that.

Marcus Auerbach · Answer

Go to MilwaukeeWaterWorks, customer service and request a final bill. You can also set up online payments. Or ask the tenant to take care of it and bring a receipt.

Greg Weik · Answer

Your state law requirement of 21 days for the security deposit disposition is strict.  My suggestion would be to send the security deposit claim for the anticipated refund minus what you anticipate the bill will be (historical average plus some padding).  Explain in your security deposit claim that once you receive the final water bill showing it is paid in full, the withheld balance will be refunded to the former tenant in a separate payment.

When you get the final bill, send the 2nd payment to the tenant (minus any amount for the water utility pro-ration) and a revised security deposit claim form.

Your future leases should include that this is your process.  It seems to me that the 21-day period in Wisconsin is half-baked, given that water is a utility that often runs with a property and not the lease term.  If outlined in your lease clearly, my method should prove effective; if a tenant complains about wrongful withholding of the security deposit for an unknown water bill, that withholding dispute will be resolved before it can go anywhere.

Your only other recourse is to include the water bill with the rent.

Mohan Deep · Answer

I must provide them a statement within 21 days of anything that I am holding from their security deposit but the bill won't be generated for another 35 days. I can ask for a "final bill" to be generated. there is a fee of $75 to generate that and I don't know if I can pass it along to the tenant. Hence I came here asking for opinions.

David M. · Answer

@Mohan Deep

Mainly just hold onto their security deposit until the bill comes...  Is there a timing issue with your state's laws?  You could try to ask for a separate meter read and billing perhaps from the water company?

How to bill tenant for their water usage after they move out

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