In your situation the cost was likely built in and your were paying more than it cost. If you ever exceeded the cost, your agreement would have changed.
Your situation is increasingly less common…it’s basically a legacy thing where landlords don’t have separate meters for their tenants.
I don’t think they had any meters on individual units, they had no way of knowing who was using what, so no basis to change the agreement. I’m not saying it’s common, I’m just saying it’s a situation that exists.
I think u/MyMindIsLikeAnOcean’s point was that the landlord would change things if the cost got high enough. For example, water usage of $10K per month would prompt the landlord to get those meters added.
In your situation the cost was likely built in and your were paying more than it cost. If you ever exceeded the cost, your agreement would have changed.
Your situation is increasingly less common…it’s basically a legacy thing where landlords don’t have separate meters for their tenants.
Was going to say- I’ve always had to open my own account with the water company to provide water to my apartment. Definitely not folded in.
I don’t think they had any meters on individual units, they had no way of knowing who was using what, so no basis to change the agreement. I’m not saying it’s common, I’m just saying it’s a situation that exists.
I think u/MyMindIsLikeAnOcean’s point was that the landlord would change things if the cost got high enough. For example, water usage of $10K per month would prompt the landlord to get those meters added.
Our more likely, raise everyone’s rent to cover the excessive water use.
I have heard of both happening. At some point though, an individual building’s rent can only go so high.