--- title: Livable Now Blog --- ![](https://www.livable.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/LIVABLE_Logo_HI_RES_300px_Corporate.png) SOLUTIONS [PROPERTY MANAGER DASHBOARD](https://www.livable.com/property-manager-dashboard/) [TENANT CONNECT](https://www.livable.com/tenant-connect/) [UTILITY BILLING & COST RECOVERY](https://www.livable.com/utility-billing-cost-recovery/) [LIVABLE NOW BLOG](https://blog.livable.com/) [CONTACT US](https://www.livable.com/contact-us/) SOLUTIONS [PROPERTY MANAGER DASHBOARD](https://www.livable.com/property-manager-dashboard/) [TENANT CONNECT](https://www.livable.com/tenant-connect/) [UTILITY BILLING & COST RECOVERY](https://www.livable.com/utility-billing-cost-recovery/) [LIVABLE NOW BLOG](https://blog.livable.com/) [CONTACT US](https://www.livable.com/contact-us/) MANAGER LOGIN RESIDENT LOGIN ### Posts by tags: - [2021 taxes (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/2021-taxes) - [amenities (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/amenities) - [apartment industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/apartment-industry) - [apartment industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/apartment-industry) - [clean water (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/clean-water) - [climate change (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/climate-change) - [come and save with us (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/come-and-save-with-us) - [conservation (25)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/conservation) - [construction (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/construction) - [cost recovery (11)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/cost-recovery) - [Economic Recovery (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/economic-recovery) - [economy (7)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/economy) - [eviction moratorium (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/eviction-moratorium) - [examples of conservation (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/examples-of-conservation) - [financial impact (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/financial-impact) - [homeowner (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/homeowner) - [House’s HEROES Act (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/houses-heroes-act) - [housing (8)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/housing) - 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[ratio utility billing (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/ratio-utility-billing) - [real estate (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/real-estate) - [Rent control (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rent-control) - [rent policies (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rent-policies) - [rental (7)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rental) - [rental housing industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rental-housing-industry) - [renters (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/renters) - [Republican lawmaker (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/republican-lawmaker) - [rising costs (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rising-costs) - [roofing (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/roofing) - [RUBS (25)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rubs) - [Single-family homes (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/single-family-homes) - [smart utility (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/smart-utility) - [smarter approach (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/smarter-approach) - [solar (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/solar) - [staying home (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/staying-home) - [Staying Strong and Giving Back (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/staying-strong-and-giving-back) - [tax credits (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tax-credits) - [technology (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/technology) - [tenant protections (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tenant-protections) - [tenants (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tenants) - [unionofconcernedscientists (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/unionofconcernedscientists) - [utility bill (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-bill) - [utility billing (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-billing) - [Utility savings (17)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-savings) - [we heal as one (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/we-heal-as-one) See all # Latest stories ## [Multifamily Heading Into Q4 2026: The Supply Wave Is Being Absorbed, but Pricing Power Hasn't Returned](https://blog.livable.com/multifamily-q4-2026-outlook) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Oct 6, 2026, 9:00:01 AM For the past two years, the multifamily story has been about supply. Developers delivered a historic wave of new units, and operators across much of the country spent 2025 and 2026 competing for residents with concessions and flat rents. Heading into the fourth quarter, the data points to a market in transition. Vacancy is easing, concessions are reaching fewer units, and new construction has slowed sharply. But rents are still flat nationally, discounts remain unusually deep, and in many markets expenses are still rising faster than revenue. Here's what the latest numbers say, and what they mean for property managers and owners planning for the end of the year. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/multifamily-q4-2026-outlook) ## [The Hidden Cost of Turnover: How Vacant Units Quietly Drain Your Utility Budget](https://blog.livable.com/the-hidden-cost-of-turnover-how-vacant-units-quietly-drain-your-utility-budget) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Sep 15, 2026, 9:00:00 AM Turnover gets measured in a lot of ways: lost rent, marketing spend, maintenance hours. One cost that rarely makes the spreadsheet is what happens to utilities while a unit sits empty. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/the-hidden-cost-of-turnover-how-vacant-units-quietly-drain-your-utility-budget) ## [7 Fall Conservation Tips Every Property Manager Needs](https://blog.livable.com/7-fall-conservation-tips-every-property-manager-needs) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Sep 1, 2026, 8:59:59 AM As temperatures start to drop, fall is the window property managers cannot afford to skip. The weatherproofing, maintenance, and resident communication decisions made in the next few weeks directly shape heating bills, maintenance calls, and resident satisfaction for the entire winter season. Here are seven practical conservation moves worth prioritizing this fall. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/7-fall-conservation-tips-every-property-manager-needs) ## [The Hidden Lever Inside Your Utility Bills](https://blog.livable.com/the-hidden-lever-inside-your-utility-bills) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Aug 18, 2026, 9:00:00 AM Most property managers can tell you their rent roll down to the dollar. Fewer can tell you, without pulling reports and doing the math by hand, how much utility cost their portfolio is currently absorbing that could be recovered instead. That number matters more than it might seem. Utility recovery is one of the few operating costs that can actually be passed through to residents, and unlike rent, it doesn't depend on what the market will bear. It depends on whether the recovery process is actually working. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/the-hidden-lever-inside-your-utility-bills) ## [How to Spot a Seasonal Utility Spike Before Residents Start Disputing It](https://blog.livable.com/how-to-spot-a-seasonal-utility-spike-before-residents-start-disputing-it) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Aug 4, 2026, 9:00:01 AM Every year, the same pattern shows up. Summer cooling costs climb. Winter heating costs climb. And every year, some of that increase lands on resident statements as a surprise instead of an expected shift. By the time a resident calls to dispute a charge, the property manager is already playing defense. The operators who avoid this are not the ones with lower utility costs. They are the ones who know a seasonal spike is coming before residents open their statements. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/how-to-spot-a-seasonal-utility-spike-before-residents-start-disputing-it) ## [Utility Costs Are Rising Faster Than Rents. Here's What That Means for Property Managers.](https://blog.livable.com/utility-costs-are-rising-faster-than-rents.-heres-what-that-means-for-property-managers) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Jul 21, 2026, 9:00:00 AM The numbers are in, and they are telling a clear story. Across the U.S. multifamily market, operating costs are climbing faster than rents. Insurance premiums are up dramatically in many markets, particularly in Florida and Gulf Coast states. Property taxes continue to reset upward. Labor costs remain elevated. And utilities, one of the largest controllable line items in any rental property, are rising faster than rents in many markets. For property managers already navigating a challenging environment, that gap between income and expenses is where margin goes to die. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/utility-costs-are-rising-faster-than-rents.-heres-what-that-means-for-property-managers) ## [AppFolio Handles Property Management. Here's What Handles Your Utility Costs.](https://blog.livable.com/appfolio-handles-property-management.-heres-what-handles-your-utility-costs) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Jul 7, 2026, 9:00:04 AM Every month, property managers using AppFolio run leaner operations. Rent collection is automated. Maintenance requests are tracked. Tenant communication is centralized. And yet, for thousands of multifamily operators, one line item keeps draining the budget quietly: utilities. Not because they are not paying attention. Because the tool they rely on most was never built to solve that problem.   [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/appfolio-handles-property-management.-heres-what-handles-your-utility-costs) ## [The Utility Cost Mistake Most Landlords Make Without Realizing It](https://blog.livable.com/the-utility-cost-mistake-most-landlords-make-without-realizing-it) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Jun 9, 2026, 10:06:03 AM If you manage rental properties, you are probably already thinking about vacancy rates, maintenance costs, and tenant retention. But there is one line item most landlords overlook until it shows up as a quiet drag on their NOI. Utility costs. Not because landlords do not know utilities are expensive. But because most have never asked whether they are recovering those costs the way they should be. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/the-utility-cost-mistake-most-landlords-make-without-realizing-it) [All posts](https://blog.livable.com/all) [Next](https://blog.livable.com/page/2) #### Subscribe to join our monthly newsletter Stay updated on real estate news, laws,  and monthly saving tips and tricks! ![Monthly-tip](https://blog.livable.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2020_assets/illustrations/Monthly-tip.png?width=180&height=165&name=Monthly-tip.png "Monthly-tip") #### Smart saver tip of the month Insulating water pipes is a quick and inexpensive way to lower water-heating costs. The easy upgrade reduces heat loss and allows you to lower your buildings’ water temperature setting by two to four degrees. Plus, since water doesn’t take as long to heat up, less of this precious resource is wasted waiting for faucets and showers to get to the appropriate temperature. On smaller buildings, this is a definite DIY job that should take less than a day to complete. Check out the [U.S. Department of Energy’s website](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/services/do-it-yourself-energy-savings-projects/savings-project-insulate-hot-water-pipes?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8yh5oCnhWhoNYxyWitSNwCQZKjwDza8YZ-_XqR_0bGeAJoJKUSlyuOiGT5Nuvpv6Yhcarj) for a comprehensive shopping list and step-by-step instructions. ### More Lively Livable ### Posts by Tag - [RUBS (25)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rubs) - [conservation (25)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/conservation) - [how to save money on utilities (19)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/how-to-save-money-on-utilities) - [Utility savings (17)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-savings) - [cost recovery (11)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/cost-recovery) - [property owners (11)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/property-owners) - [ratio utility billing (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/ratio-utility-billing) - [utility bill (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-bill) - [utility billing (10)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/utility-billing) - [housing (8)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/housing) - [economy (7)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/economy) - [livable (7)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/livable) - [rental (7)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rental) - [Housing developers (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/housing-developers) - [come and save with us (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/come-and-save-with-us) - [multifamily properties (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/multifamily-properties) - [renters (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/renters) - [Rent control (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rent-control) - [climate change (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/climate-change) - [increase NOI (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/increase-noi) - [investment (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/investment) - [smart utility (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/smart-utility) - [legislation (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/legislation) - [natural resources (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/natural-resources) - [new state laws (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/new-state-laws) - [rising costs (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rising-costs) - [solar (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/solar) - [tenant protections (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tenant-protections) - [Millennials (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/millennials) - [Property managers (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/property-managers) - [amenities (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/amenities) - [clean water (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/clean-water) - [examples of conservation (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/examples-of-conservation) - [financial impact (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/financial-impact) - [homeowner (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/homeowner) - [real estate (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/real-estate) - [rent policies (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rent-policies) - [staying home (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/staying-home) - [tax credits (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tax-credits) - [technology (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/technology) - [tenants (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/tenants) - [unionofconcernedscientists (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/unionofconcernedscientists) - [2021 taxes (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/2021-taxes) - [Economic Recovery (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/economic-recovery) - [House’s HEROES Act (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/houses-heroes-act) - [Livable staff (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/livable-staff) - [Republican lawmaker (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/republican-lawmaker) - [Single-family homes (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/single-family-homes) - [Staying Strong and Giving Back (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/staying-strong-and-giving-back) - [apartment industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/apartment-industry) - [apartment industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/apartment-industry) - [construction (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/construction) - [eviction moratorium (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/eviction-moratorium) - [post-pandemic adjustments (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/post-pandemic-adjustments) - [rental housing industry (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/rental-housing-industry) - [roofing (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/roofing) - [smarter approach (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/smarter-approach) - [we heal as one (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/we-heal-as-one) See all [Home](https://www.livable.com/) | [Solutions](https://www.livable.com/#)| [Property Manager Dashboard](https://www.livable.com/property-manager-dashboard/) [Utility Billing and Cost Recovery](https://www.livable.com/utility-billing-cost-recovery/) | [Contact Us](https://www.livable.com/contact-us/) [Privacy Policy](https://www.livable.com/privacy/) / [Terms and Conditions](https://www.livable.com/privacy-policy/)  [Manager Login](https://pm.livable.com/) [Resident Login](https://resident.livable.com/) Copyright © [Livable](https://www.livable.com/), Inc. 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