All Forum Posts by: Calvin D.

@Nathan Gesner Thank you so much for this. Greatly appreciated :)

Thanks Kevin. I appreciate the insight and will look into the laws around utilities. Has, electric and water are all under one company on one bill. 

I'm renewing the leases for a duplex that has 2 units: upstairs (3 bedroom, 3 people) and basement (2 bedroom, 2 people + 3 pets). There is one meter for both units. The strategy I have been using as recommended by my tenant placement service isn't working for me with the current higher utility costs (I won't clutter this question with an explanation of it but can do so if helpful). How do people in this position administrate utilities? Should I have the bill in my name, show to tenants when it arrives and have them pay me 2/3 and 1/3 of the bill? Have it in one of their names and get them to tackle it? I know there will be pros and cons to both but if anyone has a strategy that is really working for them, I'd love to know about it. 

@Steven Silman 

Thanks for the input. I haven't made the phone call to the tenants yet, but I think this is what I will do. I was going to offer to pay some of it, but this really is their oversight. I've got a text message from them that they noticed the toilet was "constantly making noises," AFTER I told them about the huge water bill. So I believe this, in addition to the lease clause that they are to promptly notify me about any water issues, strengthens my case.

I'm in Vancouver, but the duplex is in Edmonton. Thanks :)

Quote from @Dwayne Poster:

Does your lease require them to contact you in regards to issues, if so, it's on them, if not, it's on you. Add it to your lease, and have tenants pay for utilities.

Thanks Dwayne. The lease does require them to contact me immediately with regard to any issues, including water. So even though they are young, ignorant of home maintenance, and likely didn’t read the lease in detail, I feel they should be able to responsible for at least part of the cost. Some folks here have recommended splitting the cost with them… this could be an option. 

And yes, I’m going to change the way I charge for utilities as soon as the current lease is up. It’s a bit tricky as it’s an up-down duplex and you one water meter. 

Quote from @Eliott Elias:

Why are you paying their water bil?

It’s an up/down duplex and there is only one meter for the house. I’m charging a set average amount with a clause that if the utilities go over, they are responsible to pay a percentage. This strategy was what was recommended by a property management company I used to place the tenants. I am now re-thinking this and looking for a better option. 

Quote from @Brian Liscio:

@Calvin D.

It’s a lesson learned. I recently added that to our leases. Tenant is responsible to contact PM for any water issues immediately and is responsible for excessive use of water. They live there and can hear the water refill the tank at night. $900 is a lot to suck up. I’d try to work something out with them as a possible split.

Thanks Brian. I do have it in the lease that they are to report any maintenance issues immediately, including water issues. But not specifically that they are responsible for excessive use of water. They didn’t report the water issue, so they are at least partly responsible, though I think it was more of a matter of ignorance. 

 Thanks so much for all the helpful responses. 

There is a clause that they need to report to me if there are any house maintenance issues, including with water, and are responsible for any outcomes of not doing so. They did not do this (honestly I am not sure they read or remembered the details on the lease). 

I have some young tenants in a main floor of a house. They are respectful and nice, but did not think to inform me that the toilet was running all the time, though they noticed it was “always making noises.” I just received a $900 water bill for last month, which is how I found out about this. If I had known about the running toilet I would have dealt with it immediately. Who is responsible for this water bill? Thank you!