Does the rent at an apartment usually include electric and water?

Question

I'm trying to budget & was wondering how much it is really going to be a month. Typically, is the water & electric bill included in the rent when you are in an apartment?

Answer 1

I own a few apartment buildings and houses and it kind of depends on the person who I am renting to. If they are someone reliable, I will cheapen the rent and let them pay the utilities themselves to help build credit etc. But if I think they are mouth breathing deadbeats, I jack up the rent and I pay for them. I don't know where you are getting an apartment, but it also depends on how the units are set up. If they are individually metered, you may have the option. Unless the building has been recently remodeled, chances are the utilities all come on one bill, and the owner pays for it by jacking up your rent.

Answer 2

It varies by location and property. Few apartments include the electricity any more. The climate where you live, your local utility's kilowatt rate, and your use of the electricity determine the cost. Some complexes have sub-metered electric, which can be slightly lower. You may also have a gas bill to consider. It is best to ask and check all the details to make sure before you move. In some areas it used to be possible to call the utility company and get the previous 18 month's utility bill info. I do not know whether this is still possible. If it is, it can be a good starting point for an estimate. If you depend on a/c in a hot climate, or heat in a very cold climate, a lower unit surrounded by others can be more efficient. Although downstairs is less advisable for safety reasons.

Answer 3

No. Usually, water & trash are included. If you're lucky, like my sister, gas & electric were also included along with water. Some apartments include basic cable and broadband internet too. If you're working during the day or night, your bills shouldn't be too high. Remember to turn the light off when you leave a room, shut off the computer, run the dishwasher full or 3/4 full, run the a/c on 80 degrees when home. When away, turn it up to 85. That's how I kept my bill down when I was working. Now that I'm home more, I can't handle the a/c at 85 but keep it at 80 & let it cycle on & off all day, except when it's triple digit heat.

Answer 4

There's really no way to answer the question. I'd say the split is about 50:50. A lot of apartments will include utilities while many won't. In my experience, my rent has never included utilities, but that may just be my own bad luck. You'll have to ask your perspective landlord whether they are included in the rent before you sign, that way you don't get any unpleasant surprises when your electrical bill shows up.

Answer 5

No, and it also depends on where you live. Some places may have water included in you rent, but not all places.

Now if where you live have some commuinty programs that will help you. Like section 8 housing, or HUD.

HUD will pay your rent, and sometimes you can talk to your landlord, and he will include electric and water with your rent.

My daughter has HUD, and it pays her rent, electric, amd water.
Her friend had HUD, it paid her rent and electric, but not her water.

Section 8 housing is something like public housing. Which if you are low income, includes everything. But it is based on your income.

You don't have to be on welfare in order to get this. It is souly based on income.
My daughter again, she works and HUD pays the electric and water and rent, but she also pays a portion of her rent. She is single, but again it is based on your income. How much you earn in a four week perion, and then they figure it out, how much you will pay.

But I don't know where you live, and this is based on up state New York, where we live.

So you would have to check out and see if any programs are available to you, and based on your income, what you can afford.
Then again,(do not get an apartment with electric base board heat) how cold does it get where you live, and how much electric you use, and water.

Here our water bill has a base rate, wheather you use it or not. It is broken down into what you pay. Ours also includes, sewer, garbage, useage, and the base rate. Ours runs on what we use. How many time you flush your toilet, how much laundry you do, how many showers you take, and how many people there are. Our highest bill for two people has run us about 112.00 for a three month period. Our highest electric bill(we have a house, but no heater vents upstairs, and also since they raised the rates) has run us about 312.00 for one month. And we had our heat on 68 degrees. So everything depends on how much you use and how high you put it.

Hope this helps you a little bit. Good luck with renting.

Answer 6

At my last apartment we paid the rent and that included the water and parking. We had to pay the electric bill on top of that.

Answer 7

This is coming from Indiana: Around here, I've mainly seen the water bill, garbage and upkeep being paid by the landlord. The electric, phone and any personal costs have always been up to the tenant to pay. Hope this helps.

People usually need to ask before signing a lease, first.

Answer 8

No, it varies by complex. Some pay no utilities, some provide allocated utilities, some include some combination of gas, electric, & water, and a few provide all. The general rule of thumb is that your rent should be no more than 28% of your income. Budget that and if you land a place in that range that pays for utilities, you've saved yourself some money.

Answer 9

In my state, it seems the trend is usually (but not always) that water and heat are free. I've never seen free electric. Your electric costs depend on how big the place is and if you leave lots of lights on all the time and such. I don't think I've ever gotten a bill for more than $60 for electricity between my roommate and I, and that was when we were constantly running the air conditioner.

Answer 10

Rent usually includes heat and water, but not electricity. And depending on where you live, electricity will probably run you about $130 bucks a month.

Answer 11

Water and heat are usually included in the rent. Electricity is almost never included in the rent. Always read the lease agreement, very carefully, everything you pay for, is stated in the lease agreement.