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Where do you think the money is coming from right now to pay the common area utilities?
From OP's rent.
I'd be frustrated too, because they aren't likely to be offering a rent reduction in return for tenant's shouldering the cost. And, it's not customarily something that tenants pay in addition to rent, at least nowhere that I've heard of.
Furthermore, are they basing the cost on total units, or total occupied units? If it's a flat "divide by the number of bedrooms in the complex" that's different than "divide by the number of tenants."
I'd be frustrated too, because they aren't likely to be offering a rent reduction in return for tenant's shouldering the cost. And, it's not customarily something that tenants pay in addition to rent, at least nowhere that I've heard of.
Furthermore, are they basing the cost on total units, or total occupied units? If it's a flat "divide by the number of bedrooms in the complex" that's different than "divide by the number of tenants."
It is something I had not heard of, either, in my years renting all through my youth and in the past few recent years.
I will see as I begin my apartment search how prevalent it has become.
I do not know how this will be calculated, I did not understand her nebulous explanation.
During the last few months of my apartment lease many years ago, our area had a drought. Water was included in the rent, but when I discussed renewal, I was told that the new lease said tenants would be charged for a portion of the apartment community's water/sewer bill based on number of bedrooms. That included all of the common areas + all of the individual units combined usage since they weren't separately metered.
The part I really didn't like was the spin they put on it. They claimed that they were helping us become good stewards of our natural resources. Lol. I had no control over anyone else's water usage, but I could help pay for it? They were just trying to recover the horrendous water bill surcharges they had suffered. It was also to ensure that they would never have those kinds of unexpected losses again.
I promptly bought a house and moved out at the end of my lease. They could have just upped the rent, and I probably would have paid it.
During the last few months of my apartment lease many years ago, our area had a drought. Water was included in the rent, but when I discussed renewal, I was told that the new lease said tenants would be charged for a portion of the apartment community's water/sewer bill based on number of bedrooms. That included all of the common areas + all of the individual units combined usage since they weren't separately metered.
The part I really didn't like was the spin they put on it. They claimed that they were helping us become good stewards of our natural resources. Lol. I had no control over anyone else's water usage, but I could help pay for it? They were just trying to recover the horrendous water bill surcharges they had suffered. It was also to ensure that they would never have those kinds of unexpected losses again.
I promptly bought a house and moved out at the end of my lease. They could have just upped the rent, and I probably would have paid it.
How high was your bill when they started tacking on the extra water usage?
I agree, if it was just a slight rent increase, I would have signed the renewal already.
But two water bills each month....I can't live with that.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrRational
The real problem with it is that over the next six months, as more and more people leave the complex and aren't replaced,
WHATEVER the costs might be will be getting divided by an ever declining number of remaining and paying tenants.
But then except for maybe outdoor lighting, the usage would go down, so the CAU should be less.
But then except for maybe outdoor lighting, the usage would go down, so the CAU should be less.
Occupancy here is usually high. It is a popular metro area. There wouldn't be many unoccupied units.
From the investors website:
"We are one of the country’s most active multifamily investors. We manage a $9.6B portfolio of 42,883 units across prime locations throughout the Western and Eastern United States."
You have to check on what is legal in your state. In my state, I don't think that this can be done.
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