Should I include utilities in rent?

[Kamron Lewis]

I am a new investor, househacking a duplex in the Pittsburgh area. Unfortunately I only have one meter for each utility. Would it be better if I added utilities into the rent or had my tenant pay back for utilities based off a sqft percentage of their unit? Any insight would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[Anthony King]

@Kamron Lewis pay a plumber to submeter so each side gets their own bill. I never pay utilities if I can legally avoid it. When tenants have "free" utilities they somehow think it's a good idea to crank the heat to 85 with 3 windows open in January and fill all their neighbor's swimming pools with the garden house. At least that's what I imagine them doing when I open the bill.