Utilities: tenant laws and cost of sub-metering

[Daniel O.]

Hey folks,

I've been exploring Pittsburgh as a potential investment area and had a few questions to help me better analyze opportunities. In particular, I'm wondering for both single- AND multi-family properties.

1. Are there laws around who must pay utilities in Pittsburgh (or Pennsylvania as a whole)? If landlord must pay up front, are they allowed to bill tenants after the fact?
2. Anybody know what's involved in setting up sub-metering and how much that might cost per unit?

Thanks so much!

[Alex Deacon]

@Daniel O. as long as the utilities are metered separately and there is not co-mingled utilities then you can have the tenant put any utility in their name. You want to be careful with water and sewer since one or both can stay with the property owner if the tenant does not pay. You may want to consider paying that bill and billing the tenant back as one option. Also if you have the water metered separately but not with the utility company meter but an off market mechanical meter then you can bill back the tenant also. Its just a bit of work since you will have to go and read the meter and calculate the water and sewer usage.