I'm working on getting my first property ready for rent in west Cleveland, and I'm wondering how to handle the water bill. I know in some cities it's paid by the tenant but in others it's paid by the landlord. How is it handled here? If you pay water, do you bill it to your tenants?
Rental Property Investor · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2016 · 227 posts · 287 votes
7y
It's really the landlord's preference, but the water bill is the one thing that the landlord can be chased for if the tenant doesn't pay it, so most landlords prefer to handle it themselves.
Most of my rentals are in Bedford, which has an astronomical city-imposed $52 minimum water charge per unit per month. I pay it, and I bill the tenants for anything that's over the minimum. It really takes a lot of water usage to go over the minimum. Best of all worlds for me - I know it's being paid, I've got a consistent charge to budget for, and the tenants still have motivation to let me know that the toilet's running.
Realtor · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 857 votes
7y
I would log in to Cleveland Water to see when this high usage is occurring. Remove all exterior spigots
Renew lease with tenants paying water and sewer.
Else remove the tenants.
IS the plumbing still copper? I had to remove all mine in my apartment as it was just too old. Fix one line another would leak. Just got rid of it all to pex.
@James Wise Great idea regarding removal of exterior spigots... however I just had a rental inspector in CLEVELAND proper give us a violation for exterior spigot. They say it is now required!
Let me know if you start seeing the same.
Bob C
Install a shut off valve opposite the spigot wall for Monitoring Purposes