Less Waste, More Profits for EPAA Members

A Better NOI is Just a Click Away

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Recover Up to 90% of Your Utilities with Livable

If you're tired of including utilities with your rent every month, and chipping away at your net operating income, Livable helps put money back in your pocket.

  • It works with or without rent-controlled buildings.
  • Livable saves you money with no unit minimums - ever!
  • It includes water, sewer, and trash.
  • Livable Pro is so easy you can manage it yourself!
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“Water bills alone in El Paso have increased over 13% and that eats into an investment’s health quickly. Livable can help our members recover some of those costs from the end users – their tenants – while keeping rents at fair market value.”

scott-lynch Scott Lynch El Paso Apartment Association Executive Director

Did you know...

Water Utility Rates are Rising

Across the country, water utility rates are steadily climbing year over year. A combination of aging systems, fewer resources, and extreme weather have pushed water and wastewater bills up by 30% in less than a decade.

Electricity Costs are Soaring

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the residential electricity price nationwide increased by 1.5% in 2022, and forecasts U.S. winter natural gas bills in 2023 will be 30% higher than last winter.

But You Can Divide and Conquer

A well-planned RUB System can capture and bill a resident's actual usage as accurately as possible. Studies have shown that individually calculated utility bills can reduce water, gas, and electric usage by up to 35%.

Texas

Ratio Utility Billing in Your State

Texas
Find out what legislation your state, counties and cities have on ratio utility billing to be a better-informed property owner.

Texas has addressed water and sewer submetering, allocation, and billing through detailed state agency rules. On September 1, 2014, the Texas Public Utility Commission (TPUC) assumed jurisdiction of water submetering and ratio utility billing systems (RUBS) from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The TPUC's rules are largely unchanged from the TCEQ's. However, from September 1, 2014, landlords should attach the current TPUC rules to new leases and renewals instead of the old TCEQ rules. All Texas billing program registration documents should now be sent to the TPUC. There is a possibility that the TPUC could implement further rule changes in the future.

*Local ordinances and state laws that determine which utility costs can be recovered through Ratio Utility Billing can and do change, and while we try to keep our database updated regularly, we cannot guarantee that we have the most up-to-date legislation in your area at all times. For that reason, all information and language provided here are for educational purposes only. Livable is providing neither (i) legal advice regarding legal or regulatory requirements for tenant notice or consent nor (ii) any warranty or representation of any kind with respect to this information and the language contained therein, including that the information is suitable for any particular purposes.

 

Water/ Wastewater
Electricity
Gas
Trash
    • A clear written description of the allocation method in the rental agreement.
    • The rental agreement must state the average utility bill for the previous calendar year.
    • Owners may not impose extra charges exceeding the actual utility charges.
    • Adequate records of utility consumption and charges must be maintained.
    • All necessary utility allocation records should be available for tenant inspection during business hours.
    • Late payment fees for allocated water bills can't exceed 5% of the late bill.
Visit the Texas Public Utility Commission Page

Interested in More Resources?

Livable Pro offers its users access to a library of helpful resources and documentation for Rental Owners and Property Managers. From resident notices to lease addenda, we support customers transitioning onto our platform and implementing RUBS for their Residents.*  

Our Features

Why Choose Livable?

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We Handle Billing for You

Livable bills your Residents monthly and provides multiple ways to pay via an easy-to-use Resident Portal.

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No Unit Minimums

Livable Pro is the first billing platform designed for the independent rental owner.

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Includes Water, Sewer, Trash, & More

Whatever the shared utilities are at your properties, you can include them in Livable Pro.*

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Easy to Use

There's no need to learn any new "tricks" to use Livable Pro. We kept it easy so you can get started right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

We answer some of the top questions our property owners and residents ask us.

What is the billing cycle timeline for Livable property owners and residents?

Property owner distribution and/or reimbursement will be initiated on the 3rd week of the following month. See our timeline below for a general billing and collection schedule.

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What’s the difference between Livable Pro and Livable Enterprise?

We will begin in this chapter by dealing with some general quantum mechanical ideas. Some of the statements will be quite precise, others only partially precise. It will be hard to tell you as we go along which is which, but by the time you have finished the rest of the book, you will understand in looking back which parts hold up and which parts were only explained roughly.

How confident do you feel with where the company is going?

We will begin in this chapter by dealing with some general quantum mechanical ideas. Some of the statements will be quite precise, others only partially precise. It will be hard to tell you as we go along which is which, but by the time you have finished the rest of the book, you will understand in looking back which parts hold up and which parts were only explained roughly.

How it Works

Setting Up Livable Pro is Quick & Easy

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Add Your Properties & Residents

Add each of the properties, including their name and address, that you'd like to enroll in Livable's RUBS program. Then configure each unit by specifying the size and number of residents in each unit.

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Add Your Utility Costs

Enter all of the utilities for each property (e.g., water, electricity, gas) through either manual entry or data import. Specify how you'd like to allocate costs (by square footage, occupancy, etc.).

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Start Saving Money

Livable Pro calculates potential savings based on the entered utility cost information and allocation methods. With your utilities better divided, watch your net operating income steadily improve! 

Join thousands of housing providers and property managers using Livable to offset rising utility costs

Livable benefited my business by offsetting utility expenses through pro rata distribution to the lessee's and during the process reduced water usage by 25%.  I no longer have to worry about what the amount of the bill will be as the residents also have an interest in not wasting water.

Dennis R.

Livable was an excellent choice. Livable utility management offers a conscious responsibility to the owners and to the renters to ensure that the utility ratio billing is fair for both landlords and residents. Livable lives up to its simple program implementation. They are easy to connect with. I get immediate help if I need it. Thank you Livable.

Cara N.

Livable is an invaluable partner to our organization. For years in our rent-controlled city, the only way to increase the bottom line was through unit turnover. Utility costs increased by as much as 20%/yr, which directly impacted NOI. With Livable, we are able to not only recoup most of our utility costs but also are able to pass through future utility price increases.

Ryan S.

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Come Save With Us!

With no unit minimums ever; including water, sewer, and trash; what are you waiting for? Sign up for Livable Pro today to start improving the NOI on your properties.  It's so easy, that you can manage it yourself!

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