Utility Advice for up/down duplex

[Braden Hobbs]

Hello! I'm looking for advice on how you'd handle the following situation.

We are looking at a SFH that has been converted to an up/down duplex but doesn't have separate utilities. I feel like my options are to either pay the utilities and adjust rent accordingly, or have the tenants split the utilities 50/50. My issue with the latter is that the heat is controlled by the upstairs unit, so that doesn't seem fair to the lower tenant. The last option would be to just rent it as a single unit with a kitchen in the basement.

What have some of you other landlords done in this scenario?

[Al Williamson]

1 ) consider plug in radiant heaters for the bottom unit so they can control their own heat.

2) I like lump sum pricing all utilities included. You pay the utilities. Be sure to advertise the "without utility" option and then call out the all-inclusive add on. You don't want sticker shock. Apples to apples is best.