Including water bill to rent, how will tenants react?

[Nicholas Jose]

Good afternoon.

My tenants have been paying for their own separate gas and electricity bills, but when it comes to water, I'm the one that's paying (since there's only one meter for water). I've been thinking of increasing my tenants' rent so that it includes the water bill; however, they've been paying on time and I'm just not sure how they'll react once they see their rents go up: angry? understanding? How should I explain it to them?

[Tim Miller]

The horse may have already left the barn on this issue. First things, first. Does it state in your lease that Water is included in the rent? If so, there is nothing you can do. But even if it isn't in the lease, I wouldn't push that on existing tenants that pay on time.

Now, if they are on month to month. I would send them a 30 or 60 day notice that there is going to be a rent increase of $...... Don't even mention anything about covering the water bill as they may come back to say "Water is included in the rent". Just keep it simple, there's a rent increase. Good luck.