Passing the cost of utilities on to tenants

[Ruth Ann Morris]

I am considering purchasing a duplex in Sioux Falls, SD that does not have separate meters.  Up until this point, from what I understand, the utilities were included in the rent.  That works great if you own the place free and clear, but to purchase the place, I am having to finance.  Can I pass the majority of utilities costs on to the tenants, and how do I make it fair if say one unit has one person and the other has three.  At the moment, one place is vacant and the other place has a single long term renter.  

[Steve Babiak]

There is only one RIGHT way, and that is to have separately metered utilities. Yeah, it does cost some money to do the right thing ...