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That sounds like what our apartment complex does. I'm not too happy about it. We were told (unofficially) that water was metered, but it is clearly not metered. It is divided amongst residents (water, sewer and trash). I do believe it is based on unit size or number of residents, but I don't know exactly how. We tend to be conservative with water use, but doesn't make a difference in our bill.
On a good note, it's been extremely consistent over the past year. On a bad note, it's definitely pricey. I lived in a house in the same area with one extra person, and this bill was about $40 cheaper a month in the house.
This seems to be the trend here in Tucson, AZ -- tenants being charged for water, sewer, and garbage. When I moved into the complex where I am living, I was not told as to how these charges were determined; I assumed there were individual meters for each apartment -- WRONG!! Now, I live alone in my apartment (a water conservationist), and the new family that moved in across from me came in with 5 people, but now has blossomed to 8 in that apartment (management does not know). If these bills are divided up according to the number of people living in an apartment, how can it be fair that there can be many more people living in apartments than management knows about. There is no doubt in my mind that I am paying way more for my water, sewer, garbage because of the illegal behavior of other tenants. How could any of this be fair to someone like myself??? Frankly, water/sewer/garbage has always been included in my rent until I moved into this complex in NE Tucson. Then, to top it off, the management company charges every apartment a $3.50 charge per month to make up the invoices. Now, just multiply $3.50/mo. x 442 apartments (# in this complex) every month, not to mention the other complexes this management company manages -- what a bottom line!!!!
This seems to be the trend here in Tucson, AZ -- tenants being charged for water, sewer, and garbage. When I moved into the complex where I am living, I was not told as to how these charges were determined; I assumed there were individual meters for each apartment -- WRONG!! Now, I live alone in my apartment (a water conservationist), and the new family that moved in across from me came in with 5 people, but now has blossomed to 8 in that apartment (management does not know). If these bills are divided up according to the number of people living in an apartment, how can it be fair that there can be many more people living in apartments than management knows about. There is no doubt in my mind that I am paying way more for my water, sewer, garbage because of the illegal behavior of other tenants. How could any of this be fair to someone like myself??? Frankly, water/sewer/garbage has always been included in my rent until I moved into this complex in NE Tucson. Then, to top it off, the management company charges every apartment a $3.50 charge per month to make up the invoices. Now, just multiply $3.50/mo. x 442 apartments (# in this complex) every month, not to mention the other complexes this management company manages -- what a bottom line!!!!
No, it's not fair, but you should've asked for clarification before you signed the lease. It might actually be in the lease, so go back and read it again.
If it really bothers you, and it's obvious that it does, then spill the beans to the landlord that there's extra people in the unit.
When you move, keep your current situation in mind, and ask questions regarding utilities.
When I moved in I was told the rent is 1100 and $25 course you have to get a hold of Nevada Energy cuz for your electricity and gas. For 3 months I paid 1100 and $25. Then suddenly my rent rent went up to $1,387 and $0.07 do in 3 days. The person that rented to us said there were no other charges but the lease agreement says that we have to pay our own water bill they paid but apartment complex pays 30% and the tenants pay the rest of it. So I ask the landlord 4B Waste Management sewer and water bill and they said they couldn't give it to me. I want to know how much it cost I want to know how much the landlord pays does he really pay 30%. The month of May I paid over $262.07 for the month of June I paid $70.60 over the rent and for the month of July it was $196.01
When i have rented and was charged for those utilities, they gave a flat rate, so i guess this is what they are doing with us. They go by the size of the apartment i am guessing. they say it is $20 or $110 (these have been the two rates charged me for a 1 bedroom apartment - one in the city and one in the suburbs. ) they never based it on number of people in the apartment. so i guess i too have been paying for water and used less than someone else with more people in the apartment.
Paying for water in an apartment would be a tough one for me. When I had a house, I was always conservative (and I still am) & saved brown water for gardening, flushing toilets, etc. My water bill was $15-20 per month. My neighbors, where there were 3 people would often have a hill of $200 or so. I don't know how they did that & she didn't know how I did it.
But, she wouldn't think of being conservative. Thought I was still silly for doing all I did, even with the proof in savings I showed her.
That would be my fear, that I would be charged for someone not concerned with the environment & who wastes water. I don't go to the extremes I did with my house. I don't have a garden for one. But I still try to conserve as much as possible. Living in a building with neighbors who didn't care would be very hard.
Got notified this week that our complex is going to start charging renters for water, sewer and trash, using outside company that monitors the use and bills the complex for it. It's my understanding that the water bill will be divided up equally based on 100% Factored Occupancy basis (less 5% for common area deduction). I take that to mean that, for example, if there are 200 units, the bill would be divided equally by 200. This doesn't seem fair because obviously you could have a single person not using as much water as say a family of 4. Have any of you had any experience with this and does this seem fair (or even legal)?
Thanks
I don't know if it is legal, but my complex does it. I live alone and I guess I am paying the same as someone in another unit that has a family of four. The bill is around $ 55.00 and I do laundry once a week.
There is really no good way to divide it up. Even if you are accounting for the number of people in each unit and billing that way.
I don’t know how I’d stomach my water bill being the average of dozens of units with people who use varying degrees of water.
Since I was a kid, I was taught to take 5 minute showers. Now, I know people who can take half hour or even hour long showers.
It sucks that as someone who uses very little water, is be paying based on someone who may take hour long showers or waste a ton of water in other ways
This is a great example of changing to a socialist system to pay for the water ... in California no less, and people there don't like that ? everybody pays the same for the greater good ... right comrades?
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