Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 105 posts · 25 votes
So our elderly couple (65-70 range) tenants who work as caregivers for a senior living facility installed washer and dryer in the unit without consulting us. They said they didn’t want to contract covid19 at a laundromat which we did feel. As a result we got 1500 water bill (usually 500) which we didn’t feel!! What would you do if you were in the situation? It is a rent controlled unit and the rent is a little less than 1050 and market rent is 1600-1900. They pay on time and keep the place clean. But it was a big deal breaker for us when cash is not flowing with this low rent.
Specialist · Riverside, CA · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y
@Miho Y. if you have a $1500 water bill that is not the fault of a washer/ dryer, even $500 is crazy if that is per month, I'd start looking for leaks.
Specialist · Riverside, CA · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y
@Miho Y. if you have a $1500 water bill that is not the fault of a washer/ dryer, even $500 is crazy if that is per month, I'd start looking for leaks.
Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 105 posts · 25 votes
6y
Sorry if I wasn’t clear. It is bimonthly so 250 per month for 3 units. But because they installed washer and dryer behind our back without consulting us we received a water bill that was 1500. We wanted to see how the other apartment owner would proceed to retrieve any of the loss.
Tell them they need to pay the excess water bill and then you can either have them stop using the washer dryer or have them pay extra (to cover water and electric) AND ensure that it is properly installed. I'm guessing there was no hook up, so how did they connect the plumbing-could that be leaking? If you are that far below market value, I'd suggest increasing the rent when the lease is renewed.
Rental Property Investor · Ankeny, IA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y
I still want to know how a $500 water bill every two months went to $1,500. Were they doing the laundry 24/7 for the entire senior living facility they work at?
Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 105 posts · 25 votes
6y
Thank you all. We may consider pay or quit. we are convinced it was the washing machine because we made them remove the machines then the water bill came down to 500 again.they were pissed bc the plumber they hired kinda did a good job. The property is under rent control so we are allowed only 4 % increase which didn’t happen this year thanks to covid.
Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 105 posts · 25 votes
6y
@Scott Mac we already called LADWP. Their response was ridiculous. “You know in Covid days people may extra family members staying with them so it’s normal water bill can go that high.” Now it’s back to normal After having them remove the washer. 250 per month for 3 units I think it is More tolerable than 750 per month.
Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
6y
(1) Compare the bill to your personal water bill.
(2) the water company if the water meter has been running constantly. (In Vegas at least they can say the water meter has been running for x number of days constant.)
We live in the desert and have a pool. Our water bill is $32-$35/mo. I think water costs around $1.15 for a thousand gallons. If they installed a wasteful clothes washer that uses 5 gallons per load, they could do 200 loads of laundry (6 loads per day or 3 loads per day for 2 months every day) for about a dollar.
Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 105 posts · 25 votes
6y
@Bill B. thanks. you are convincing us to abort rentals in California. We lived all over Southern California. And with a pool, it cannot be 35/mo around here.
Do you live near the rental? How does their water bill compare to your personal water bill? And don’t forget to Ask the water company if they can tell if the water meter has been running constantly. (I still can’t believe they don’t have an automated service to call customers whose water has been running for more than a week. We live in a desert and the water employee thought nothing of saying that a rental of mine with a $300 water bill for one month had a water meter that hadn’t stopped spinning in 45 days....what did they think we were doing with the water suddenly?)