What's included in the rent? (apartments, water heater, tenant)

[EnjoyLife2]

I notice few of the listing mentions "Rent includes gas for cooking" and some " Rent includes gas, heat and hot water." If it doesn't mention heat and hot water do I have to pay for it as a tenant?

[StrayCat1995]

If it doesn’t mention it it’s cause you have to pay it most likely. Some listings only says “tenant is responsible for electricity “ but what they don’t tell you is that you pay for electricity including electric stove and heat, and sometimes even hot water is part of the electric bill

[EnjoyLife2]

Originally Posted by StrayCat1995

If it doesn’t mention it it’s cause you have to pay it most likely. Some listings only says “tenant is responsible for electricity “ but what they don’t tell you is that you pay for electricity including electric stove and heat, and sometimes even hot water is part of the electric bill

Thank you!

[Voltaire1122]

Originally Posted by EnjoyLife2

I notice few of the listing mentions "Rent includes gas for cooking" and some " Rent includes gas, heat and hot water." If it doesn't mention heat and hot water do I have to pay for it as a tenant?

Heat and hot water have NEVER been a thing I've had to pay as part of rent. Its not mentioned because, I'm 99.9% sure, its always included in the rent.

[StrayCat1995]

Originally Posted by Voltaire1122

Heat and hot water have NEVER been a thing I've had to pay as part of rent. Its not mentioned because, I'm 99.9% sure, its always included in the rent.

It has become increasingly common for heat and hot water to be part of the electric bill in all of these new buildings, you don't pay it separately because everything is becoming electric. Last 2 places I saw didn't mention that in the listing, I had to ask the agent. If It doesn't say it, I would just go to the viewing and hopefully it's included but be ready to hear that.

[randomperson2]

I've never rented at a place in NYC that didn't include heat/hot water, but I guess you should ask.

[Draconyte]

You would be surprised how that is showing up more often. I remember when I was looking for a place and I saw that, so I asked the agent and thy were like you have to pay for your head and hot water as well as electricity I was like huh? it was like another $300 on top of the rent in the wintertime. So it never hurts to ask. This was not a lottery apartment it was an a small older building so this is not a new thing it is just showing up more often

[linamonroll]

I'd be really surprised to hear if anyone has to pay for hot water in the sense that people in the suburbs get a "water bill". I live in a new, all electric, lotto building now and my heat/AC is one unit through the wall and technically I pay for heat if/when I have the fan part on in the winter and warm air comes out bc that's using electricity. I don't think they have a way for you to pay for the hot water separately because that would require each unit to have it's own hot water heater and that can't be cost-effective in these larger buildings, maybe in a duplex.

[popartist]

Originally Posted by linamonroll

I'd be really surprised to hear if anyone has to pay for hot water in the sense that people in the suburbs get a "water bill". I live in a new, all electric, lotto building now and my heat/AC is one unit through the wall and technically I pay for heat if/when I have the fan part on in the winter and warm air comes out bc that's using electricity. I don't think they have a way for you to pay for the hot water separately because that would require each unit to have it's own hot water heater and that can't be cost-effective in these larger buildings, maybe in a duplex.

It's still not too common, but I notice in more and more floor plans for apartments in new buildings that there are individual water heaters tucked away in a closet somewhere.

[macnyc2003]

Yes, many new buildings have individual HVAC units in each room, which are electric. The tenant pays for that. Landlords love this because the residents control the temperature and can’t complain that it’s too cold in the winter. The landlord just needs to keep the units in good repair. The cost of hot water is another thing that landlords are passing along to residents.