Paying for the utilities

[Angelo Llamas]

What would one of you suggest for a medium term operator whose tenants may be over using a specific utility like gas or electric. Has anyone ever made the tenant have to pay for a single utility and have the others be covered. In Modesto it gets really hot during summer and pretty cold during winter. It can get pretty expensive what would anyone suggest or should I write the lease so that the next tenant depending on time of year should I do not include a specific utility and adjust my rent because of it ? 

[Cara Lonsdale]

My suggestion would be to cap your utilities at a certain amount and have Tenants pay anything over that amount.

That will help you manage your expenses, and also allow Tenants to gage their usage each month, and make adjustments if they don't want to go over the allotted amount.

As far as collection, provide the bill showing any overages and just have them pay for it along with their rent.