How to Set Up Multi-Building Properties in SimpleSUB

If your property has multiple buildings with separate master meters, there are two ways to set it up in SimpleSUB.

For most properties, we recommend creating one SimpleSUB property per master meter because it is the simplest and most transparent setup.

Recommended Setup (Most Properties)

One Property Per Master Meter

In this setup:

• Each building has its own SimpleSUB property
• Each property receives its own utility bill
• Tenant bills are calculated separately for each building

Why This Setup Works Best

• Easier to manage
• Easier to explain to tenants
• Billing ties directly to a single utility bill

• Most common setup used by SimpleSUB customers

When to Consider Combining Buildings

One Property for the Entire Community

In some situations, it may make sense to combine all buildings into a single SimpleSUB property.

This approach is most helpful when:

• Water rates are tiered
• Some buildings have large irrigation usage
• Water usage varies significantly between buildings

• You want to spread higher water rate tiers across the community

Quick Comparison

	Separate Properties	Combined Property
Best For	Most properties	Tiered or uneven usage
Transparency	Easier to explain	More complex
Fairness Across Buildings	May vary by building	More balanced
Billing Complexity	Lower	Higher
Utility Bills	Separate	Combined
Recommended?	✅ Yes	Sometimes

How Billing Works in SimpleSUB

Tenant billing is calculated at the Property level.

Each property contains:

• Units
• Submeters
• The utility bill supplying the total cost

When a utility bill is entered, SimpleSUB allocates costs across the units within that property based on water usage.

Because billing happens at the property level, the way buildings are grouped directly affects how tenant bills are calculated.

Separate Properties (Recommended)

Utility Meter A → Property A → Tenant Bills

Utility Meter B → Property B → Tenant Bills

Utility Meter C → Property C → Tenant Bills

Each building:

• Receives its own utility bill
• Has its own billing calculation
• Is billed independently

Combined Community Property

Utility Meter A

Utility Meter B

Utility Meter C

       ↓

Combined Community Property

       ↓

Tenant Bills

In this setup:

• Utility bills are combined
• Total usage and cost are entered together
• Costs are distributed across the entire community
   

Transparency vs. Fairness

Choosing between these setups is usually a tradeoff between:

Transparency

Separate properties are:

• Easier to explain
• Easier to verify
• Simpler for tenants to understand

Fairness

Combined properties can:

• Spread higher utility rate tiers more evenly

• Reduce large billing differences between buildings

Example: Tiered Water Rates

Some utilities charge more per gallon as total usage increases.

For example:

• Lower usage → lower rate
• Higher usage → higher rate

If one building has heavy irrigation or unusually high usage, it may move into a higher pricing tier.

If Buildings Are Separate

• That building may receive higher water rates
• Tenants in that building may pay more

If Buildings Are Combined

• Higher rate tiers are spread across the community

• Costs may feel more balanced overall

Important Considerations for Combined Properties

If combining buildings into one property, property managers should be prepared to:

• Combine multiple utility bills each billing cycle
• Maintain records of combined usage and costs
• Explain combined totals if tenants request details

Many customers keep a spreadsheet showing:

• Each utility bill
• Combined usage totals
• Combined costs entered into SimpleSUB

 

Our Recommendation

For most properties, we recommend:

One SimpleSUB property per master meter

This keeps billing:

• Simple
• Transparent
• Easy to explain

Consider combining buildings only when:

• Utility rates are heavily tiered
• Water usage varies significantly between buildings