Lease dictionary
Utilities clause (and RUBS)
Who pays which utilities - and how shared buildings split the bill.
The utilities clause assigns each utility - electric, gas, water, trash, internet - to landlord or tenant. In buildings without individual meters, landlords often use RUBS (Ratio Utility Billing System), splitting the master bill by unit size or occupant count.
Some states and cities regulate RUBS: the formula must be disclosed, and landlords generally can't profit by marking up the bill.
Watch out
Ask for the last 12 months of actual utility costs before signing - a cheap rent with an uncapped RUBS bill isn't cheap.
See it in action
The Move-in cost calculator puts this term to work for you.