Vacant Unit Cost Recovery

Vacant Unit Cost Recovery (VCR)

VCR helps owners recover costs associated with tenants who fail to transition utility services to their name on or before moving in. It also allows owners to recoup costs on tenants who prematurely close their utility accounts before moving out.

As utility costs are on a seemingly endless rise, Vacant Unit Cost Recovery (VCR) is now a necessary mandatory practice for management companies and owners. United Utility Solutions provides a tested process that helps remove costly management errors and consequently lowers your property’s Net Operation Expenses.

Why Do You Need VCR?

In many apartment complexes, residents are expected to pay directly to their utility providers for their own energy bills; however, there are many instances where residents either fail to establish services in their name on or before their move-in date or prematurely close their account prior to moving out. When this happens, property owners end up having to pay for the resident’s utility expenses until the account is corrected.

The Benefits Of Our VCR Program

• Income is increased by invoicing tenants for their proper share of utility usage
• Energy and resource costs are reduced since you no longer allow residents to use utilities at no charge to them.
• VCR helps to offset energy costs.
• Utility invoice data is organized and managed properly, allowing your team to access real-time management reports in real time.

How United Utility Solutions Can Help

• We invoice residents for all utility charges that weren’t transferred in a timely manner.
• A customizable late utility registration fee is charged to applicable tenants, as well as any recouped VCR charge.
• We include utility charges on every resident’s monthly statements.
• UUS can set optional grace periods and amounts in order to avoid automatically charging a resident who registered slightly late.
• We enter vital details for later audit on vacant bills and run reports that allow you to see these details on either a unit-by-unit, month-to-month or even on a single bill basis with the option to view original copies of the bill.