Originally posted by @Lam N.:
No, not worth it. The most expensive part is you have to install a new water line from the street meter into the house. This meant digging up the ground between the street meter and the house.
The best way to deal with this is charge them an additional fee for the water. I do $100 for mine. So, in the lease it would look something like this.
Lam N, Is this a New York only thing where a new line has to be run off the street meter? I didn't know street meters existed, I've only seen properties where the water meter is within the basement of property tied into whererever the main water line from the street enters the property
In Mass, you simply tee off the existing water main line entering within the properties basement and add a second meter that feeds all of the other unit's water piping, so nothing needs to be done on the street side at all and its not expensive besides plumber costs. Water bills stay in owners name, water/sewer addendum signed at lease signing, and copy of MA submetering of water/sewer certification form where the plumber is certifying of low flow fixtures are installed is included with lease as well. Owner pays bill to make sure it is always paid up, and tenant pays amount of bill back to owner within x number of days (established in lease)
