Originally posted by @Chris Martin:
Utilities paid by owner should be capped. If usage goes over $X, then tenant is responsible for the overage. In NC (Wake county, at least), when written into the lease, the courts will side with the landlord. I know from small claims cases. In all fairness, our caps are very reasonable. Water and electric are what we pay for some select properties... and what we cap in the lease.
Would this be something that could be inserted into existing leases? Partners and myself are looking at a multi-unit right now where the landlord pays the gas. The gas bill is very high and the apartment we viewed had the thermostat set at 75 degrees while the occupant was at work! No incentive to turn it down I suppose. Making the tenants a bit more aware and responsible would help the bottom line and perhaps fund splitting each unit off into its on bill/meter.
