I need to know what this means "utilities not included"...please explain further...?

Question

I just signed a lease that stipulates that "utilities are not included" in the rent. I'm not from New York, NY and I don't know if that means heat, hot water, electricity, etc. What exactly am I paying for? Also, how do I set up all of these things? Lastly, how much should I expect to pay? My husband and I will be occupying the apartment. Thanks!

Answer 1

utilities not included means you pay water heat electric you pay everything nothing is included in your rent

Answer 2

Utilities will include:
Water and/or sewer
Electricity (and possibly gas - although gas is likely to be from the electric company)
Phone
Cable
Depending on the heating source, you might have oil as well, but that would be in the winter months mostly.

I believe that trash pick up is included in NYC, covered by the city government. As far as how to get these things set up, ask your land lord, I am sure that he/she will be happy to get you pointed at the right places.

For cost, it will depend on the size of the apartment (heating and cooling a larger place takes more energy), the amount that you use and any features that you add. Some examples follow:

A basic phone bill might run about $20 a month, this has no long distance and no special features (caller ID, Call waiting, etc) Adding on a long distance plan will add to your basic expenses, and you would have to estimate and figure out which plan, if any is right for you. Of course, you might elect to forego a land line telephone and just use wireless service.

Your water and sewer bills are likely to be quarterly. They will likely be around $100 a quarter, or less. As far as hot water, you pay for the cold water and have a hot water tank that users gas or electric to heat the water, so you pay on your electric bill.

Electricity and gas are tough ones. Are you and your husband good about turning things off that you aren't using? Do you cook in a lot? Do you keep the place exceptionally cool or warm? Do you have a lot of things that get plugged in and just draw power all day long?

Your cable bill is also going to vary a lot. Plain ordinary basic cable is probably going to be about $40 a month. Add an expanded package, some premium channels and internet access and you might push that up to $150. You can also check, the cable company might have a package deal for broadband phone, unlimited calling, expanded cable and internet access that would save you money.

Once you know who the providers are, make some phone calls, and check the web. Find out the deals and put together the package that is right for you. The deposit money may or may not be required. If you have good credit, you might not need that.

Good luck and feel free to contact me if you need any additional advice.

Answer 3

utilities mean that you have to pay for hot water, electricity, heat, etc. You could make a million calls all over to figure out how much it would cost, but why don't you call your landlord and ask them. When looking for an apartment you should always ask a ton of questions and make sure that if you have any problems with the lease you must must must discuss those problems and have them written on the lease. Every state is different when it comes to charging people for there utilities, I only pay for power (yeah lucky me) and I pay about 40 - 50.00 every 2 months. I hope this helps and I hope you enjoy your new pad in New York.

Answer 4

Okay, i just went through the same thing.

Here is a little bit of advice to scold you: Never sign a lease withot knowing what you are getting into!

Okay, now the only way to find out what is included in the monthly rent is to ask your landlord or look through your copy of the written lease where it should be stated. Those are the two solid sources to find that answer.

Also, when i moved into my apartment, the lanlord told me who the gas and electricity are through. You find out the company and then call them, usually a 1-800 number. They help you over the phone. You will have to pay a deposit for each one if you are just moving to the state or have never paid it before.

How much you expect to pay depends on the use of the elements, but just for an example, when i moved in they told me that they have only been paying about a 100 dollars for gas and electricity, if that.

I would take utilities not included to mean everything though. Unless otherwise stated, you are responsible for all utilities.

Answer 5

Utilities are the following: water, trash pickup, electricity for heating/cooling, possibly gas for heating, telephone, cable, internet access.

Ask your landlord what utililities are required for heating (to determine if you need gas).

You can call each utility company to get a yearly average of what it cost the former tenants at that address.

You will have to contact all the companies by phone to have the services connected. Normally, there is a deposit for most unless you have had at least one year with them at another address, then you just have the service transferred.

The local phone book should have the proper utilities' phone numbers listed in the front of the book; otherwise, you can probably get the list from the owner.

Answer 6

Yes, it does mean electricity, gas, water. If it is not already there, you need to call the companies and arrange for them to put it on. If it is already on, you need to phone the companies and tell them you are the new tenant (so that they don't charge you for what the old tenant used). For the first three months, make a note of your utilities payment and how much you used. From then on you have an idea of future payments and can control your usage so make the bill smaller or stay the same.

Answer 7

Utilities not included means that you are paying rent on the apartment itself and the utility costs are not included in that price and you will incur seperate bills/costs for them.

Your utilities include lights, water, gas, cable and phone.

How much they cost is totally dependant on how much you use.

How you go about getting them in NY, try calling City Hall or ask a neighbor. There is no way for me to know the answer to that as I live over 2000 miles away.

Answer 8

You dont need to be from NY to know that utilities means water, electricity etc. The house would come with these utilities but you have to pay as per your consumption.

Answer 9

In NYC, it is traditional for the landlord to pay for water, but depending on the set-up in your building you may have to pay to heat the hot water.

If you are in a small building like a brownstone, you will most likely have your own water heater and be responsible for paying to heat your hot water. Most large buildings pick up the cost of heating water.

Trash pick-up for residential buildings in NYC is done by the city and is paid for by the taxpayers.

Sewer costs are not passed on to tenants in NYC.

You pay for the gas and electric from Con Edison.

If your building is older and has steam heat coming from radiators, your landlord pays for that. Gas or electric heat is on you.

Some buildings come with free wireless internet, but this is usually limited to new luxury buildings.

Welcome to the tri-state area!

Answer 10

First off, unless your hot water and heating are from propane they will both be provided from your electric company. Utilities normally mean electricity. When water is included in a lease, it will specify. If you are still uncertain, than call your land lord bozo. He/she will definitely be able to answer the question.

oh yeah, and 'justwondering', how the hell are people supposed to get experienced if they don't experience anything. Shut your face.