--- title: Livable Now Blog | Livable Content Team (3) description: Livable's experts provide clear, detailed information on a variety of conservation and utility topics for housing providers and residents. (3) --- ![](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) - 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[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 ## Livable Content Team ![Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/hubfs/liv_favicon-1.png) Livable's experts provide clear, detailed information on a variety of conservation and utility topics for housing providers and residents. ## [How to Set Up Your First RUBS Billing Cycle Inside AppFolio With Livable](https://blog.livable.com/how-to-set-up-your-first-rubs-billing-cycle-inside-appfolio-with-livable) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Apr 21, 2026, 9:00:01 AM If you are using Livable inside your AppFolio workflow for the first time, setting up your first RUBS billing cycle can feel like a lot of moving parts. The good news is that when the setup is done correctly from the start, everything that follows runs smoothly. This guide walks you through exactly what to do before your first billing run goes out.  [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/how-to-set-up-your-first-rubs-billing-cycle-inside-appfolio-with-livable) ## [Mid-Year Property Review: Is Your Utility Billing Strategy Hurting Your NOI?](https://blog.livable.com/mid-year-property-review-is-your-utility-billing-strategy-hurting-your-noi) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Apr 16, 2026, 8:00:00 AM April is the right time to pause and ask a question most property managers skip until it is too late: is your utility billing strategy actually working?  Spring reviews are natural checkpoints. Budgets are a few months in. Renewal cycles are active. Operating costs are starting to climb heading into summer. If your utility billing is not set up correctly, you will feel it in your NOI before the year is half over.  Here is a simple framework to find out where you stand. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/mid-year-property-review-is-your-utility-billing-strategy-hurting-your-noi) ## [Your Residents Are Reading Their Utility Bills. Are You Ready for Their Questions?](https://blog.livable.com/your-residents-are-reading-their-utility-bills.-are-you-ready-for-their-questions) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Apr 14, 2026, 8:00:01 AM Most property managers spend a lot of time thinking about getting billing right before it goes out. Very few think about what happens after.  But here is the truth: the moment a resident opens their utility statement is a moment of judgment. They are reading it with fresh eyes, no context, and a very simple question in mind. Does this make sense?  If the answer is yes, nothing happens. If the answer is no, your phone rings.  [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/your-residents-are-reading-their-utility-bills.-are-you-ready-for-their-questions) ## [The Hidden Asset in Your Utility Bills: How Cost Recovery Increases Property Value](https://blog.livable.com/the-hidden-asset-in-your-utility-bills-how-cost-recovery-increases-property-value) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Apr 9, 2026, 8:00:01 AM Most property owners think about property value in terms of renovations, rent increases, and occupancy rates. Very few think about utility billing. But for owners focused on portfolio optimization, cost recovery through utility billing may be one of the most overlooked levers for increasing property value available today.  The reason comes down to how properties are valued. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/the-hidden-asset-in-your-utility-bills-how-cost-recovery-increases-property-value) ## [How to Review and Approve Utility Statements in AppFolio Before They Go Out](https://blog.livable.com/how-to-review-and-approve-utility-statements-in-appfolio-before-they-go-out) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Apr 7, 2026, 8:00:00 AM If you are already using Livable inside your AppFolio workflow, you have access to one of the most important features in utility billing that most platforms do not offer: the ability to review and approve statements before they reach your residents. It sounds simple. But this one step changes everything. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/how-to-review-and-approve-utility-statements-in-appfolio-before-they-go-out) ## [How Utility Transparency Keeps Tenants Happy (and Reduces Support Tickets)](https://blog.livable.com/how-utility-transparency-keeps-tenants-happy-and-reduces-support-tickets) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Apr 2, 2026, 5:00:01 AM Utility billing may feel like a back-office task. For residents, it is personal. When charges seem unclear or inconsistent, frustration builds quickly. That frustration turns into emails, calls, support tickets, and sometimes negative reviews. The reality is this: most utility disputes are not about the dollar amount. They are about visibility. When residents understand what they are paying for and why, satisfaction improves and support requests drop.  👉 [**Download the full 2026 Utility Outlook**](http://livable.com/2026) to see how your markets are trending [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/how-utility-transparency-keeps-tenants-happy-and-reduces-support-tickets) ## [Spring Is the Time to Revisit RUBS: A Property Manager’s Guide to Ratio Utility Billing](https://blog.livable.com/spring-is-the-time-to-revisit-rubs-a-property-managers-guide-to-ratio-utility-billing) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Mar 31, 2026, 5:00:02 AM Spring is the reset season for property managers. Budgets get reviewed. Renewals increase. Water usage starts climbing. And operating expenses begin to rise as you head toward peak summer months. That makes spring the ideal time to revisit one of the most overlooked NOI levers in multifamily: utility billing. If your property is master-metered and you are absorbing utility costs, or relying on outdated billing methods, Ratio Utility Billing System, known as RUBS, deserves a closer look.   👉 [**Download the full 2026 Utility Outlook**](http://livable.com/2026) to see how your markets are trending  [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/spring-is-the-time-to-revisit-rubs-a-property-managers-guide-to-ratio-utility-billing) ## [Why Modern Tenants Expect Sustainability — And How Billing Supports It](https://blog.livable.com/why-modern-tenants-expect-sustainability-and-how-billing-supports-it) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Mar 26, 2026, 5:00:02 AM Sustainability is no longer a bonus feature for modern renters. It's an expectation. A growing segment of today's residents actively seeks out properties that align with their values — and how a property manages energy and water usage is increasingly part of that conversation. The good news for property managers is this: the tool that supports sustainability is the same one that improves your bottom line. Smart utility billing isn't just a financial strategy. It's an environmental one too.  👉 [**Download the full 2026 Utility Outlook**](http://livable.com/2026) to see how your markets are trending [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/why-modern-tenants-expect-sustainability-and-how-billing-supports-it) [Previous](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team/page/2) [All posts](https://blog.livable.com/all) [Next](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team/page/4) #### 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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