United Utility Services’ Ratio Utility Billing System (U-RUBS)
A fully-automated and customizable billing system that allocates the cost of utilities and services back to your tenants.
U-RUBS can easily transition several utility expenses to your tenants, including the following:
- Water
- Electric
- Sewer
- Trash
- Gas
- Parking
- Storage
- Cable
…or most any other charge you presently include in the rent!
The Race Against Rising Utility Costs
Over the past several years, the cost of utilities has vastly outpaced inflation rates by 300% to 400%. This is mainly due to municipalities and utility providers having to pay for repair costs covering aging infrastructure, installing treatment facilities to meet higher water quality standards and striving to meet increasing demand for resources.U-RUBS allows property owners and managers the opportunity to manage one of the remaining uncontrollable costs: their water, electricity and other utility bills. In 2005, the average apartment owner paid $21 every month per apartment unit in water and sewer charges. By 2015, this figure had increased to around $30.
Ratio Utility Billing Systems and Sub-Metering
While sub-metering is the most accurate way to track utility usage, it is not always feasible due to plumbing and mechanical configurations, especially in older buildings.
If possible, U-RUBS can be set up separately or in conjunction with sub-metering. It can also be implemented in apartments, condominiums, office complexes, retail stores, warehouses or just about any type of multi-unit property.
The Benefits of Our U-RUBS Program for Owners:
By implementing our U-RUBS program, your utilities will turn from a Net Operating Expense to an asset that adds to your Net Operating Income. This boosts your bottom line and subsequently increases the value of your property.
The best part of this process is that we do all of the heavy lifting for you and your management team. Not only do we collect and analyze the data, send the bill and collect the monthly payments, we also handle customer service related matters. This provides you and your staff with more time, freedom and resources to prioritize resident comfort or other concerns.
The Benefits of Our U-RUBS Program for Tenants:
Tenants benefit in that they are now in control of their usage and subsequent rent increases, as once they start paying for it themselves, consumption and billing charges drop at an average of 20%. Our reports have shown that tenants become more proactive in reporting that leaking toilet or dripping faucet.
With their very own secure and online United-UtilityTrakR™ portal, they can quickly and easily check their balance or make a payment 24/7/365.
How the U-RUBS Program Works:
- A complete analysis of the property is initially conducted. This includes determining the goals of the proposed U-RUBS program.
- Your property management office sends notices to the tenants of a lease addendum for them to sign. This document also explains the transition process and the benefits of the U–RUBS program.
- Each unit is designated with a corresponding occupant factor and square footage factor, or a combination of both.
- The allocation begins with a copy of your property’s utility bill using the dollar amount from your utility provider of the consumption period that is to be billed. A predetermined common area allowance percentage (determined by you, the owner) is deducted to give us the billable figure.
- Building, unit and tenant information is uploaded into the system by us and verified by you or your property staff.
- Copies of the relevant master utility bills are obtained, analyzed and added to the system.
- An online seminar is conducted to train you and your personnel on how easily our United- UtilityTrakR™ system works.
- We send a letter of introduction to your tenants explaining how the new ratio utility billing program works.
- When a new tenant moves in or when the notification period has passed, individual bills are created every month.
- The bills are then sent out via first class mail or online through our e-Bill option.
- Tenants submit their payment to us by either using the same method or by paying directly to your leasing office
- A monthly reconciliation and reimbursement check is sent to you, your assignee, or your property management company.
