Shining Some Light on Utilities in Apartments

One of the most important things to understand when you rent an apartment is its utilities situation. In fact, it's critical that you have all the information about it before you make a final decision to sign a lease.

Every single apartment complex handles its utility situations differently. Some of them leave it all to their tenants. Others may cover them as part of the lease agreement.

Most come down somewhere in the middle. They usually include trash and water fees as part of the lease agreement, but leave electricity and internet service to each tenant's responsibility.

However, you are likely required to keep the power on as part of your lease. Failure to do so could result in sanctions and/or eviction - whatever your lease says.

Ironically, the apartment itself has no such requirement for its own vacant units, but them's the breaks. In fact, Texas law does not require an apartment manager to provide you with air conditioning and heat - just that it offers protection against extreme heat and cold.

Requirement doesn't mean choice

Now, just because you're required to keep the lights on doesn't mean you have necessarily have complete autonomy over the electricity provider you use. In many cases, apartment complexes may only allow you to choose between one or two providers.

However, all is not necessarily lost. So, be sure to ask if your power is individually metered. If it is, you are likely to have many more choices available. If it isn't, though, then you may only have a couple of options or one single option.

Similarly, you may only have one or two options for internet service. Although you're not required to have internet turned on, apartment management may have exclusive arrangements with providers that prevent you from using any company you like.

The language of the lease is paramount, though. Even if you have an individually-metered unit, you may be forced to use a particular provider for power and internet as part of the agreement.

Required or recommended?

HOWEVER...pay very close attention to the exact language in your lease. Apartment complexes often have deals with electricity and internet providers that give them a kickback or payout if their tenants use those providers.

So, they may strongly recommend a particular provider, but a recommendation is not the same thing as a requirement. Be sure to understand the difference before you sign up.

That said, don't completely disregard the recommendation, because it may end up being the cheapest and/or best of the bunch, particularly if the complex can offer an exclusive deal to you.