Adding Fees to Tenant Bills

In addition to usage-based water charges, some properties choose to pass through fixed utility fees to tenants. These fees are typically listed on the utility bill but are not based on water consumption.

These charges can be added when creating a bill so they are distributed appropriately across tenants.

Common Pass-Through Fees

Some utility bills include fixed charges that property owners choose to pass through to tenants.

Common examples include:

• Stormwater fees
• Trash or sanitation fees
• Base water service charges

These charges are typically flat fees that appear on every utility bill, regardless of how much water is used.

When adding a utility bill in the Web App, these fees can be entered on the fees page after the usage-based charges have been added.

Fee Types in SimpleSUB

SimpleSUB offers three types of fees that can be added to tenant bills:

• Flat
  A single, fixed charge applied to all tenants, regardless of usage or number of units. This is typically used for administrative fees and may include our subscription cost.
  Examples: billing fees, convenience fees

  Note: Check local regulations before passing these fees to tenants.

• Split
  A total fee that is divided among all tenants, with each tenant paying a portion. These fees typically come directly from the utility bill.
  Examples: fixed sewer charges, infrastructure costs, other utility line items

• Unit Flat
  A one-time charge applied to a specific unit.
  Examples: late fees, excessive usage charges

Administrative Fees

Some property owners also choose to include administrative or billing fees when distributing water costs to tenants.

These fees help cover the cost of managing water billing and metering.

Typical Fee Names

Common names for these fees include:

• Metering Fee
• Utility Billing Fee
• Water Administration Fee

Legal Considerations

Before adding administrative fees, it’s important to check local and state regulations regarding water submetering. Some jurisdictions have rules governing how administrative fees can be charged to tenants.

Always ensure that fees are clearly disclosed in tenant lease agreements.

Common Fee Ranges

Administrative fees vary by property and location, but many properties charge a small monthly fee per unit.

These fees help cover costs such as:

• Meter maintenance
• Data reporting
• Billing administration