Who Pays the Water Bill: Landlord or Tenant Responsibilities

When renting a property, utilities like electricity, gas, and cable are typically the tenant’s responsibility. But what about water? Deciding who pays the water bill – landlord or tenant – depends on the lease terms and location. This guide examines water bill responsibilities for rental properties.

Landlord Obligations

As the property owner, the landlord must ensure the rental unit has access to essential utilities like water, sewer, and trash service This involves

• Keeping active accounts for these utilities when no tenant is occupying the unit, to maintain plumbing and prevent damage from freezing pipes.

• Having the utilities connected under the landlord’s name when transitioning between tenants.

• Ensuring service is not disrupted, which could make the unit uninhabitable.

So at minimum, a landlord must pay for water/sewer service during vacancies between tenancies. But they have options when it comes to utilities during an active lease.

Tenant Water Bill Options

There are three main ways the water bill can be handled for a tenanted rental property:

1 Tenants pay utilities in their name

The landlord can require the tenant to set up water service in their name upon move-in The tenant directly receives and pays the water bill going forward They must cancel service when they move out.

2. Landlord bills tenants for utilities

The landlord keeps the water bill in their name and charges tenants for usage. This could involve:

• Passing on the exact water bill amount to the tenant
• Dividing shared water bills between multiple tenants
• Adding average utility costs into the rent

3. Landlord covers water service

The landlord can choose to cover water/sewer costs for tenants as an amenity. The bill remains in the landlord’s name and they do not bill tenants.

Typical Utility Splits

A common setup is for landlords to pay for water, sewer and garbage while tenants pay for electricity, gas and cable/internet. But this can vary.

Some landlords may cover all utilities or require tenants to set up accounts. Be sure to clarify who is responsible for what utilities in the lease agreement.

Unpaid Bills

If a tenant doesn’t pay utility bills they are responsible for, the landlord may have to cover the amounts to avoid service interruption. Landlords can take legal action to recover unpaid utility costs from the tenant.

For bills in a former tenant’s name, the landlord is generally not liable for unpaid balances unless state law dictates otherwise. Review lease terms and local regulations on utility payments.

Deciding Who Pays Water

When determining whether landlords or tenants should handle the water bill, consider:

• Local rental practices – Follow norms in your area

• Lease price impacts – Higher overall rent if utilities included

• Convenience – Tenants enjoy predictable bundled rates

• Marketability – Included utilities can attract tenants

• Lease terms – Clearly assign utility payment duties

• State laws – Regarding utility billing and shutoffs

While practices vary, the landlord is typically responsible for water/sewer service. Clarify bill responsibilities upfront to avoid confusion. Include terms for utility payments and collections in the lease agreement.

In Summary

• Landlords must maintain active utility accounts even for vacant units.

• During a tenancy, either the landlord or tenant can pay the water bill.

• The lease should state who is responsible for utilities like water, sewer and trash.

• Unpaid bills may fall back on the landlord to rectify.

• Consider local practices, laws and lease pricing when deciding on water bill responsibility.

Ensuring continuous utility access is a key part of providing habitable housing. Clearly assigning the water bill duty between landlord and tenant avoids disputes and service disruptions.