Less Waste, More Profits for NVAA Members
A Better NOI is Just a Click Away
Use Code NVAA3free to Get 3 Months of Livable Pro Free!
Recover Up to 90% of Your Utilities with Livable
If you're tired of including utilities with your rent every month, and chipping away at your net operating income, Livable helps put money back in your pocket.
- It works with or without rent-controlled buildings.
- Livable saves you money with no unit minimums - ever!
- It includes water, sewer, and trash.
- Livable Pro is so easy you can manage it yourself!
"Our newly established partnership with Livable is an excellent compliment to our current membership benefits. We’re looking forward to collaborating on education opportunities."
Patrick Algyer
Northern Virginia Apartment Association
Executive Director
Did you know...
Water Utility Rates are Rising
Across the country, water utility rates are steadily climbing year over year. A combination of aging systems, fewer resources, and extreme weather have pushed water and wastewater bills up by 30% in less than a decade.
Electricity Costs are Soaring
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the residential electricity price nationwide increased by 1.5% in 2022, and forecasts U.S. winter natural gas bills in 2023 will be 30% higher than last winter.
But You Can Divide and Conquer
A well-planned RUB System can capture and bill a resident's actual usage as accurately as possible. Studies have shown that individually calculated utility bills can reduce water, gas, and electric usage by up to 35%.
Ratio Utility Billing in Your State
Landlord and Tenant Law in Virginia permits fees and sets guidelines for utility billing in multi-family properties. Gas, electric, and energy allocation equipment fall under the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) jurisdiction. However, the SCC doesn't oversee water submetering; parties should consult the landlord and tenant guidelines for water billing.
*Local ordinances and state laws that determine which utility costs can be recovered through Ratio Utility Billing can and do change, and while we try to keep our database updated regularly, we cannot guarantee that we have the most up-to-date legislation in your area at all times. For that reason, all information and language provided here are for educational purposes only. Livable is providing neither (i) legal advice regarding legal or regulatory requirements for tenant notice or consent nor (ii) any warranty or representation of any kind with respect to this information and the language contained therein, including that the information is suitable for any particular purposes.
- Tenant Billing: Allowed
- Regulations: Code of Virginia: 55.1-1212. (Effective October 1, 2019) permits the use of various energy and water submetering equipment, as well as ratio utility billing systems, provided they're specified in the rental or lease agreement. The equipment must adhere to the standards enforced by the State Corporation Commission.
- Fees: Allowed, including move-in, move-out, and billing fees. Late fees can't exceed $5.00 and should be mentioned in the lease.
- Additional Regulations: Full disclosure of the program, including its methodology and fees, is essential in the lease.
- Last Updated: 12/02/2020
- Tenant Billing: Allowed
- Regulations: See Water/Wastewater for regulations regarding this utility.
Additionally, Chapter 305. Rules for Electricity and Natural Gas - Section 20 states:- Such equipment can't be used in any dwelling unit unless all units utilize it to the maximum allowed by their facilities.
- Nonresidential rental units, stores, or campgrounds can use the equipment if the lease mentions it.
- All agreements should mention that submetering or energy allocation equipment is in use and disputes about billing accuracy lie between the tenant and owner.
- Owners are accountable for equipment provisioning, installation, and maintenance.
Additional Regulations: Full disclosure of the program, including its methodology and fees, is essential in the lease.
- Fees: Allowed
- Last Updated: 12/02/2020
- Tenant Billing: Allowed
- Regulations: See Electricity for regulations regarding this utility.
- Fees: Allowed
- Last Updated: 12/02/2020
- Tenant Billing: Allowed
- Regulations: Trash allocation is permissible. For detailed regulations, see the Water/Wastewater section.
- Fees: Refer to Code of Virginia Title 55.1. Property and Conveyances - § 55.1-1212 and the Virginia Residential Landlord Act.
- Last Updated: 11/11/2019
Interested in More Resources?
Livable Pro offers its users access to a library of helpful resources and documentation for Rental Owners and Property Managers. From resident notices to lease addenda, we support customers transitioning onto our platform and implementing RUBS for their Residents.*
Our Features
Why Choose Livable?
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We Handle Billing for You
Livable bills your Residents monthly and provides multiple ways to pay via an easy-to-use Resident Portal.
No Unit Minimums
Livable Pro is the first billing platform designed for the independent rental owner.
Includes Water, Sewer, Trash, & More
Whatever the shared utilities are at your properties, you can include them in Livable Pro.*
Easy to Use
There's no need to learn any new "tricks" to use Livable Pro. We kept it easy so you can get started right away.
How it Works
Setting Up Livable Pro is Quick & Easy
Add Your Properties & Residents
Add each of the properties, including their name and address, that you'd like to enroll in Livable's RUBS program. Then configure each unit by specifying the size and number of residents in each unit.
Add Your Utility Costs
Enter all of the utilities for each property (e.g., water, electricity, gas) through either manual entry or data import. Specify how you'd like to allocate costs (by square footage, occupancy, etc.).
Start Saving Money
Livable Pro calculates potential savings based on the entered utility cost information and allocation methods. With your utilities better divided, watch your net operating income steadily improve!
Join thousands of housing providers and property managers using Livable to offset rising utility costs
Livable benefited my business by offsetting utility expenses through pro rata distribution to the lessee's and during the process reduced water usage by 25%. I no longer have to worry about what the amount of the bill will be as the residents also have an interest in not wasting water.
Dennis R.
Livable was an excellent choice. Livable utility management offers a conscious responsibility to the owners and to the renters to ensure that the utility ratio billing is fair for both landlords and residents. Livable lives up to its simple program implementation. They are easy to connect with. I get immediate help if I need it. Thank you Livable.
Cara N.
Livable is an invaluable partner to our organization. For years in our rent-controlled city, the only way to increase the bottom line was through unit turnover. Utility costs increased by as much as 20%/yr, which directly impacted NOI. With Livable, we are able to not only recoup most of our utility costs but also are able to pass through future utility price increases.
Ryan S.
Use Code NVAA3Free to Get 3 Months of Livable Pro Free!
Come Save With Us!
With no unit minimums ever; including water, sewer, and trash; what are you waiting for? Sign up for Livable Pro today to start improving the NOI on your properties. It's so easy, that you can manage it yourself!
