Finance category
Mortgage, loan, investing, tax, and money calculators.
Utility Reimbursement Calculator
Multifamily utility reimbursement uses one of three methods: even split, RUBS (Ratio Utility Billing System based on SF), or sub-metering. Each shifts utility cost from landlord opex to tenant pass-through, lifting NOI by $50-200/unit/mo. This calculator computes per-unit billing including the billing service fee and landlord-retained common-area portion.
Landlord absorbs
Tenant bill / unit / mo
$67
Annual reimbursement
$96,120
Monthly reimbursement
$8,010
Landlord-retained portion / yr
$10,200
How the math works
Three allocation methods: even split (simplest, equal per unit); RUBS - Ratio Utility Billing System (proportional to SF, common in multifamily without sub-metering); sub-meter (actual usage, fairest but requires capex).
Many states regulate utility billing — California Civil Code §1954.201 et seq, Texas PUC §295, etc. Tenants can sue if landlord profits beyond actual cost + reasonable billing fee.
How to Use
- Enter master utility bill, units, and allocation method.
- Enter common-area retention %, billing fee per unit, and avg unit SF for RUBS.
- Read tenant bill per unit, monthly and annual reimbursement.
Frequently Asked Questions
RUBS vs sub-meter?
RUBS no capex, ~80% accuracy, regulator scrutiny. Sub-meter $400-800/unit capex, 100% accuracy, fully defensible. Sub-meter pays back 18-30 months.
What can I charge for billing fee?
Most states allow $2-6/unit/month billing service fee. California caps it; Texas allows passthrough of actual third-party fee.
Disclosure requirements?
Most states require RUBS to be disclosed in the lease before signing. Failure to disclose voids your right to bill.
Related Calculators
More Finance Calculators
Browse all finance →AI Cost Calculator
Compare token costs across OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google AI models. Calculate monthly API spending for GPT-4o, Claude, Gemini, and more.
Tip Calculator
Calculate the perfect tip and split the bill between friends. Choose preset percentages or enter a custom tip amount.
Bill Splitter Calculator
Split an uneven restaurant bill by item, divide tax and tip proportionally, and see exactly who owes whom.
Discount Calculator
Calculate sale price, discount amount, stacked discounts, sales tax, and total savings for any markdown.
Gas Mileage Calculator
Calculate MPG or km/L, estimate trip fuel cost, and compare annual fuel expenses between two vehicles.
Sales Tax Calculator
Add sales tax to a price, reverse-calculate the pre-tax amount from a total, and estimate tax for multiple items on one receipt.
Keep exploring
Next steps in Finance
Previous calculator
Utilities Included vs Separate Calculator
Decide whether to bundle utilities into rent or bill tenants separately — consumption risk, simplicity premium, and net landlord impact.
Next calculator
VA Funding Fee Calculator
Size VA loan funding fee by first-time vs subsequent use, down payment %, and exemption eligibility.