Water Submetering In MA

[Rob L.]

Hey fellow MA investors,

Has anyone submetered their water? I bought a 3 family that has a washer and dryers in each unit. Its great in the fact that renters love it but the water usage is literally 3 times the normal water usage compared to others in the city. I even had the town come in and do a inspection to make sure we didn't have any leaks or anything and the guy said it was simply wasteful usage.

I know I can raise rents etc but I researched mass law and you can Submeter for Water in mass as long as you adhere to some rules and regs.

Just curious if anyone has done this? Water is the second largest bill after mortgage so any reduction or the possibility of not having it at all is enticing.

Let me know, thanks

[Colleen F.]

A couple of ideas -

Figure out what it costs you and say fine you can keep the washer but this is the rent with the washer dryer and this is the rent without it.

Buy High Efficiency washers if you don't have them. If these are old washers they use a lot more water (? maybe cheaper then submetering).

Are they doing someone else's wash? Put that in the lease as a reason for lease termination.

Take out the washers or put them in a common area.

I think you have to run the cost vs payback calculation on the submeters and upgrades vs. water savings. Consider what do the meters cost? Would you do the low flow fixtures even if you don't submeter?