Utilities paid by Landlord vs Utilities paid by Tenant

[Tyrell Tinnin]

Hi All,

Newbie investor here. Can someone help elaborate on which utilities the landlord should be paying vs. the utilities the tenant should pay. I know the tenant pays for the internet & cable but what about gas, electricity, water/sewer, & trash? Thanks in advance. 

[Joe Martella]

It all depends.  If the gas and electric meters are separate, then the tenant pays for them.  If you have a duplex or larger then you should be paying the electric in any common areas.  

If the water bill is issued by the municipality and if it isn’t paid you get a tax lien on your property.  Then you pay the water bill and bill it back to the tenant.. If it is a company then the tenant pays that water bill   

I pay sewer taxes.  I am sure there are other people that bill that back.

If you have a duplex or larger and only one has furnace then you need to pay for the heat and figure out how to incorporate heat into the rent.  

Hope this helps.