Tenant not paying extra water bill usage. Force the issue or no?

[Joshua D.]

So we notified a tenant that her water bill was over by $50 this month and we pay up to $40 and she is refusing to pay for it. How should i handle this? I dont want her over it. Also how does everyone raise rent a little each year? I feel most people would wanna move. 

[JD Martin]

If it is part of your lease, enforce the lease or alter it with the tenant so that it's not part of the lease any more. If it's just a gentleman's agreement, you are SOL. 

As for rent increases, depends on your market and the cost of living, but yes, generally a 1-5% increase per year is not onerous nor unusual for renters. If you leave rates static for too long you end up with tenants that are way under market rates and resentment on your part as your insurance, taxes, maintenance and other costs go up.