Guide Water

Who pays the water bill: landlord or tenant?

By MeterEase · Updated

The lease decides who pays, but the meter decides what is practical. With a separate meter, the tenant can often hold the water account. With one meter for several units, the bill usually stays in the landlord’s name, and the landlord includes water in rent or bills each tenant a share under the lease. Either way, many water utilities look to the property owner if a bill goes unpaid.

It starts with the meter

  • One unit, one meter. The account can often be in the tenant’s name, or stay with the landlord and be reimbursed. La Crosse, Wisconsin offers both options for single-unit properties.
  • Several units, one meter. The bill commonly stays with the landlord. La Crosse says it must remain in the landlord’s name, and Minnesota makes the landlord the customer of record in shared-metered buildings.
  • Each unit separately metered. The utility may bill each tenant directly.

Why owners stay responsible

Water and sewer are often city services, and unpaid bills can follow the property. La Crosse says the property owner is always ultimately responsible and unpaid balances are added to the property tax roll. Michigan law lets unpaid municipal water and sewer charges become a lien on the property, with an affidavit process for landlords whose lease makes the tenant responsible (MCL 123.165–123.166). In Connecticut, the owner of a residential building is liable for utility service to the building except service to a unit that is individually metered or billed for its exclusive use (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-262e(c)).

Three common setups

  • Water included in rent. Simplest for tenants. You carry the cost of heavy use and leaks.
  • Tenant’s own account. Possible with a separate meter where the utility allows it.
  • Landlord pays, then bills back a share. Common for shared meters, where state rules allow it. The method goes in the lease, and each tenant gets the bill and the math. See how to split a water bill between tenants.

Some states set specific rules. California, for example, requires written disclosures before the lease when a landlord bills water from submeters (Civil Code § 1954.204). Check your state guide and your water utility.

Example with made-up numbers

A triplex shares one water meter, and the lease splits water by occupants. The bill is $210, and there are 2, 2 and 3 occupants. Each person’s share is $210 ÷ 7 = $30, so the units pay $60, $60 and $90.

Run this split every month without the spreadsheet

MeterEase reads the master bill PDF, applies your method and vacancy rule, and emails each tenant their share with the source bill attached, after you check the numbers, unless you turn on auto-send for a property. Plans start at $14/month.

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Questions

Who pays the water bill, the landlord or the tenant?

Whoever the lease says, within state and local rules. With a separate meter, many utilities let the tenant hold the account. With a shared meter, the bill often stays in the landlord’s name and the landlord either includes water in rent or bills each tenant a share.

Is the landlord responsible if the tenant does not pay the water bill?

Often the property owner is still on the hook. La Crosse, Wisconsin, for example, says unpaid balances go on the property tax roll, and Michigan law lets unpaid municipal water and sewer charges become a lien on the property, with an affidavit process for qualifying leases.

Can the water bill be in the tenant’s name?

Usually only when the unit has its own meter, and only if the utility allows it. Ask your utility.

Is water usually included in rent?

It depends on the market and the building. Single-meter buildings often include water in rent or bill it back by formula. See our guide to utilities included in rent.

Related guides

Sources

Example numbers on this page are made up to show the math. This guide is general information, not legal advice; rules differ by state, city and utility.