submeter in Raleigh Triplex

[Jack Yen]

Hi,
I'm brainstorming trying to see if I could pass the water/sewer responsibility to the tenants. I have a triplex in Raleigh and currently paying water/sewer for all 3 units from the master meter. I'm trying to see if I could pass the water/sewer responsibility to the tenants so the tenant could be responsible to the water/sewer usage. Anybody has done this and would help to make suggestions? Thank you

[Keith N.]

@Jack Yen I have a duplex in Raleigh that isn't separately metered for water. What I do is I list the house for rent at the price I want to rent it to. Once the tenant decides they want to rent it, I mention "by the way water isn't separately metered, so you will just pay me XXX (flat fee) per month. 

This has always worked out for me, and tenants never use too much water.

1 Person: $45, 2 People: $75, 3 People: $90-$115

... Just don't advertise the full rent amount with water and say "water included". No tenants brain works like that, and psychologically they will see at as being a more expensive rent. Advertise the price without water included, and then when they want to sign the lease say "oh yeah, this is the flat water fee in addition to rent."