Lease dictionary
Ratio utility billing system (RUBS)
A method of splitting a building's shared utility bill among tenants by formula instead of individual meters.
With RUBS, a landlord allocates water, sewer, or trash costs using square footage, number of occupants, or a mix. The lease should say it applies and how it is calculated.
Some states regulate or restrict the practice, and charges that exceed what the landlord is actually billed, or that include admin fees, can be challenged.
Watch out
Ask for the formula and a sample bill before signing, and include the estimated cost when comparing apartments.
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