Are you charging for what tenants actually use? A sub-metering check
Improve the performance of the property you own.
Best for: Owners still paying utilities their tenants use
In some property types, particularly multi-unit or dual-key configurations, utility costs can end up carried entirely by the owner when they could legitimately be recovered from tenants through sub-metering, depending on your state's tenancy rules.
What to check
- Whether the property has separate or shared utility metering
- What your state's residential tenancy legislation permits in terms of passing on utility costs
- Cost of installing separate metering versus ongoing utility costs currently absorbed
- Whether this affects the property's competitiveness in the rental market
Who can help
Property manager
The current metering setup and what other owners in your market do.
Licensed electrician/plumber
The cost of installing separate metering.
State tenancy authority
What's legally permitted for passing on utility costs.
TAKE ACTION · QUESTIONS TO ASK
Copy questions
Copy this question and ask your property manager.
What happens next
If separating metering is permitted and cost-effective, this is a one-off cost that then reduces an ongoing expense for the life of the tenancy, improving cash flow rather than requiring a rent increase.
Important considerations
- This is general information, not personal financial or legal advice. Confirm specifics with your own adviser before acting.
THE HOLD QUESTION
Are you quietly paying for something the tenant should be?
NOT SURE WHAT TO ASK AI?
Ask a Better Property Question
Most people don't need more AI — they need to ask AI better questions. Type your question (or skip it) and copy a prompt that makes any AI tool ask you the right things first.
I am trying to understand this property issue. Before answering, identify any important information that is missing. Ask me only the questions that materially affect the answer. Once I respond, explain the issue in plain English, separate facts from assumptions, identify the main risks and give me the next three actions. Flag anything that should be confirmed with a qualified professional.
Privacy: do not paste passwords, tax file numbers, bank account details or other sensitive personal information into an AI tool. If a document contains personal details it doesn't need, redact them before uploading. This is a way to prepare — not financial, tax or legal advice.
Not sure what else to review?
Run the Annual HOLD CheckRelated HOLD Tips
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