Before you bill Not legal advice
Check the rules before you bill tenants
MeterEase is a math helper. It is not a law firm, not a compliance review, and not legal advice. You own the lease and you decide whether a charge is allowed. A billing company may have a legal department. MeterEase does not.
Lease clause
Read the lease before the first bill. It needs to allow you to bill back the utility, and it should name the method you will use, such as square footage, occupants, or bedrooms. If the lease is silent, do not assume the charge is allowed.
State and city rules
Rules differ by state and city. Some places limit which utilities you can allocate, cap fees, or require a specific notice. Optional Arizona, Texas, and Oregon helpers in the app are checklists only. They do not certify the bill.
Utility tariff
The utility that sent the master bill may limit resale, RUBS, or a landlord markup. Check that tariff, or ask the utility, before you pass the bill through.
Disclosures
Some places require a disclosure to applicants or tenants, or a copy of the master bill. You decide what to disclose. MeterEase can attach the source bill you upload. It does not know which disclosure your city requires.
Ask local counsel
Before you bill, ask a lawyer who knows landlord-tenant law where the property sits. Bring the lease, the method, and the utility tariff. MeterEase will still do the arithmetic after you decide the charge is one you can send.
Questions before billing
Does MeterEase tell me if RUBS is allowed at my property?
No. MeterEase splits the master bill with the method you choose. It does not decide whether your lease, city, state, or utility allows the charge. That decision is yours.
What are the Arizona, Texas, and Oregon helpers?
They are opt-in checklists inside the app for those states’ bill formats. Turning one on does not make a bill compliant, certified, or approved.