Blog Utility billing for landlords
The MeterEase blog
Plain-English guides for landlords and property owners who bill tenants for a shared utility bill: how to split it, what to put in the lease, how to explain it, and what it is worth. Want the rules for your state? See utility billing by state.
How-to
- How to add a RUBS clause to your leaseWhat a RUBS utility clause in a lease usually covers, an example outline to discuss with your attorney, and how to roll it out to current tenants.
- How to handle utilities when a tenant moves out mid-monthHow landlords prorate a shared utility bill when a tenant moves out or in partway through a billing period, with worked example math and a checklist.
- How to split a water bill between tenantsA step-by-step way for landlords to split one master water bill between tenants, with worked example math for four common methods and a vacancy rule.
Explainer
- Ratio billing vs flat utility feesRatio billing (RUBS) vs a flat monthly utility fee: how each works, who carries the risk when bills rise, and how landlords can choose, with example math.
- What is RUBS, and when is it worth it?RUBS explained for landlords and property owners, plus a plain way to decide whether billing utilities back is worth the setup and monthly work.
Money
- How much can utility bill-backs recover on a 4-unit building?Clearly labeled example math showing how to estimate what utility bill-backs could recover on a 4-unit building, including vacancies and the cost of doing it.
Tenant communication
- Answering "Why is my utility share so high?"How landlords can answer a tenant who asks why their utility share went up, with common causes, a step-by-step check, and a reply template.
- How to tell tenants you're starting utility bill-backsHow landlords can announce utility bill-backs to tenants clearly and fairly, with timing tips, a letter template you can copy, and answers to common questions.
Founder
- Why I built MeterEaseMeterEase founder Drew Starbuck, an estate planning attorney in Las Vegas, on the client complaint that led him to build a tool that does one job well.