Renting a new apartment can be a fresh start and an exciting chapter in your life, but there are a few things to consider before setting your rent budget. It’s easy to overlook the cost of utilities when planning your move, but with all of the monthly expenses the cost can quickly add up. With this in mind, many people find themselves questioning what are utilities, which utilities are essential and how can I save money on them?
The utilities that you typically need to pay for when renting a home or apartment are water, sewage, natural gas, electricity, trash and recycling. While it is not mandatory, many people also opt to pay for internet, telephone and cable service as well.
A utility is a service offered to a property that connects to a more extensive structural system offering those same services to other properties across the city. For example, water service at a property is considered a utility.
There are a lot of different utility options and pricing, depending on where you live. However, there are certainly some common amenities that you may find when renting in the U.S.
Water and sewage utilities includes everything from the water that comes out of your shower faucet, the water that allows you to flush your toilet, the water in your dishwasher and much more. Usage is measured by a meter and then reported to the public utilities commission. This utility bill is sent to the individual apartment or home, or to the apartment complex, where an apartment manager will split the bill evenly among tenants.
This utility includes the removal of recycling, trash and organic waste. Apartment landlords usually have a contract with the city’s waste management company to collect tenants’ trash and recycling. Usually, this service comes with a small monthly fee.
This utility includes light in your home, power for appliances and heat in the winter. Natural gas and electricity use a meter to measure the amount you use. Tenants are charged a cost based on an agreed-upon rate and usage. You will typically get this bill at the end of each month.
These utilities are not essential but are very common and can often be purchased from the same company. The cost of this utility can vary greatly depending on the type of service. You typically pay a monthly fee for each of these services.
Utility companies facilitate the distribution and transmission of electricity. Depending on where you live, these companies might exclusively provide your electrical power. Utility companies are responsible for the maintenance and stability of power lines that they own in each area. Utility companies bill tenants based on the electrical wattage they use each month.
Electricity providers provide an alternative supply of electricity and work with utility companies to send power to people’s homes using the utility company’s power lines. These providers offer price and contract regulators to customers, which allows them to provide more price and contract options. These rates are often lower than the rates they would be paying directly through a utility company.
Utilities are essential to making a property livable, and as such, are not free. However, depending on the terms of your lease, as a renter, you may not be obliged to pay them yourself.
To give you an idea of how expensive utilities will be, here are some average numbers for how much apartment utilities cost each month taking the averages from across the United States:
These prices will vary greatly depending on where you live.
Utility bills can add up to a considerable expense between the multiple services we need to pay for each month. Thankfully there are ways you can save money on plenty of those utilities.
Here are some ideas to cut costs:
Not all rentals will offer all of the utilities mentioned above. Again, it depends both on where you live and what your apartment community or neighborhood offers.
However, there are laws regarding livability, so property owners are required to provide at least the basics like water and electricity.
Looking for a great apartment with the utilities and amenities that are right for you? Thankfully, Apartment Guide’s finder tool can help you find your dream apartment today in no time!
Alex Heinz is a writer with experience in a variety of industries from tech to lifestyle. Her work has appeared in Business Insider, TechCo and PopSugar. She's lived in a handful of large cities including New York and San Diego, giving her first-hand knowledge of the ins and outs of renting. In her spare time, you can find her exploring new hikes with her dog.