Policies can vary significantly by property and can impact affordability, access to services, and comfort.
This guide helps create understanding of options so everyone can choose housing that works best for them.
Housing Preferences and Search
Housing choice is a key factor in housing stability. This section outlines how to identify a household’s preferences and know which questions to ask property management during leasing to best meet a household’s preferences.
Step-by-Step
Identify & document housing preferences
Discuss how certain factors can affect their financial responsibility
Begin housing search
Identify barriers before submitting applications
Who pays what?
Utilities
Utility billing policies can raise housing costs and affect stability.
Ask about utility charges before applying, especially Ratio Utility Billing Systems(RUBS) and common-area utilities. These policies increase utility costs and limit a household’s ability to control monthly utility costs.
Questions to ask during housing search
Which utilities are residents responsible for at the property?
Does the property use RUBS to bill for utilities? Which utilities are included in the RUBS?
Does the property charge for common area utilities?
Ratio Utility Billing System(RUBS)
RUBS divides a property's total utility costs among residents based on factors like unit size or number of occupants, rather than individual usage, meaning bills can vary and aren’t tied to what the household actually uses.
Common Area Utilities
Common-area utility charges require residents to pay a share of the building's shared utility costs—such as hallways, laundry rooms, or outdoor lighting—which can increase monthly bills beyond a household’s individual usage.
Need support implementing this into your workflow?
We offer in-person and virtual trainings to support best practices in landlord engagement.