Toledo property : Water and Gas meters

[Jay S.]

Hi fellow members,

I have a duplex in Toledo, Ohio which has 3 WATER meters and 3 GAS meters: one for each unit and 1 for OWNER. The main GAS meter is used for FURNACE and because it's on owner's name, my tenants will use furnace for FREE and in winter times, the bill amounts are insane.

I was told by property manager that the main meter for GAS and WATER would have to be on OWNER's name by LAW, which means I have to pay for utilities and that is eating away my cash flow. 

Is it possible to bill owner's meters by putting up a sub-meter for each unit OR any other way possible legally ?

Property manager didn't agree to put the clause in lease for tenant to pay for the main meters AND also said they can't do sub-meters to charge tenants.

Would appreciate any suggestion. Thank you.

[Bob Collett]

@Jay S.

Consider a flat monthly fee for each tenant.  For example, have each tenant pay approximately 1/3 of the total, letting them know that the owner pays the difference.  It is probably not enforceable in court, but if you put it in the lease, they tenants can agree.  

For water, I ask tenants in a 2 family to pay $50 per month.  This has worked well.  Not only is some of the cost covered, but the tenant takes on a sense of responsibility for usage, because I let them know up front that if usage is crazy, we will re-evaluate at time of lease renewal.

I have one judge tell me it was not enforceable in an eviction as part of the money damages.

I do a similar thing for a house that has a boiler with three gas meters.

Good luck