How are you splitting utilities up?

[Kelly Conrad]

If you have a duplex that has one circuit breaker & one water heater, how are you splitting the utilities? I've heard of folks setting up the "budget" payments through their power and gas company so you pay the same price every month and then you either pay in at the end of the year or they refund money back to you. I'm guessing you just include those utilities on top of rent, but how would you divvy it up? Some were saying to have it based on square footage, so if lower unit is 1200 (3B/1BA) and upper is 950(2B/1BA), would you split utilities 60/40 and bill them that way?

We aren't interested in adding them into the rent. Come winter time, we have a feeling the house could be 80 degrees if tenants don't have to pay for it. Looking for how others split it up.

Thanks!