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Updated about 1 year ago, 11/21/2023
What Utilities to include in the rent?
I'm in the process of gathering applications to rent my recently renovated duplex in Point Pleasant, NJ. My initial plan was to simply have tenants pay Rent + Utilities. I showed the property the other day and a tenant asked if I would be paying for the water bill? I said I wouldn't be since the duplex has all separate meters for each unit for all utilities. The tenant said "Oh, just so you know the water company will put a lein on your house if the water bill isn't paid" - This caught me off guard. I looked it up and the tenant was right.
My Question: How do you handle utilities? Do you pay for the water bill and just have the tenant pay you back? Do you include a flat rate in their rate to cover the average water bill and eat the difference?
Thoughts?