--- title: Livable Now Blog | Livable Content Team (5) description: Livable's experts provide clear, detailed information on a variety of conservation and utility topics for housing providers and residents. (5) --- ![](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) - [Housing developers (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/housing-developers) - [how to save money on utilities (19)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/how-to-save-money-on-utilities) - [increase NOI (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/increase-noi) - [investment (4)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/investment) - [legislation (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/legislation) - [livable (7)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/livable) - [Livable staff (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/livable-staff) - [Millennials (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/millennials) - [multifamily properties (5)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/multifamily-properties) - [natural resources (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/natural-resources) - [new state laws (3)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/new-state-laws) - [post-pandemic adjustments (1)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/post-pandemic-adjustments) - [Property managers (2)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/property-managers) - [property owners (11)](https://blog.livable.com/tag/property-owners) - [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 ## 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. ## [The New Standard for Property Management Fees (Explained Simply)](https://blog.livable.com/the-new-standard-for-property-management-fees-explained-simply) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Jan 23, 2026, 9:50:14 AM Property management fees are getting more attention than ever. Not because fees are new, but because renters, regulators, and owners are demanding clarity around how those fees are charged. Over the past year, complaints about confusing or unexpected charges have increased across the rental housing industry. In response, regulators are signaling that the old “buried in the fine print” approach no longer works. This is what the new standard looks like, explained simply.  👉 [**Download the full 2026 Utility Outlook**](http://livable.com/2026) to see how your markets are trending [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/the-new-standard-for-property-management-fees-explained-simply) ## [What Rising Utility Rates Mean for 2026 Budgets](https://blog.livable.com/what-rising-utility-rates-mean-for-2026-budgets) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Dec 23, 2025, 11:56:14 AM Utility costs have always been part of operating budgets, but heading into 2026, they deserve more attention than they typically get. Across the U.S., cities and utilities are no longer relying on one-off adjustments or reactive rate changes. Instead, many have adopted planned, multi-year rate increases tied to infrastructure reinvestment, inflation indexing, and long-term capital needs. Livable’s [2026 Utility Outlook](http://livable.com/2026) highlights what this shift means for property owners as they finalize budgets and why utilities may play a bigger role in 2026 financial performance than expected. 👉 [**Download the full 2026 Utility Outlook**](http://livable.com/2026) to see how your markets are trending [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/what-rising-utility-rates-mean-for-2026-budgets) ## [The Cities Seeing the Biggest Utility Rate Increases in 2026](https://blog.livable.com/the-cities-seeing-the-biggest-utility-rate-increases-in-2026) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Dec 9, 2025, 3:00:01 AM Many cities across the U.S. will see big increases in water and sewer costs in 2026. If you manage multifamily properties, these changes can impact your budget in a major way. Some cities will only see small jumps, but others have already approved large increases—some of the biggest in the country. Here’s what to expect and how you can prepare. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/the-cities-seeing-the-biggest-utility-rate-increases-in-2026) ## [Rising 2026 Utility Costs: What Property Owners Should Do Now](https://blog.livable.com/rising-2026-utility-costs-what-property-owners-should-do-now) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Nov 25, 2025, 3:48:55 PM Utility costs are going up in almost every city. Water and sewer bills are rising year after year, and many places already have increases planned for 2026. For property managers and rental owners, this means one thing: your expenses will grow unless you have a plan. The good news? You can stay ahead and protect your profit with a few simple steps. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/rising-2026-utility-costs-what-property-owners-should-do-now) ## [The Easiest Way to Offer Internet at Your Property](https://blog.livable.com/the-easiest-way-to-offer-internet-at-your-property) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Nov 3, 2025, 3:40:47 PM Offering Internet as a community amenity is one of the fastest ways to add value for residents and simplify life for your team. With Livable’s [**Community Internet Billing**](https://comesave.livable.com/bulk-billing-3), you can provide bulk-rate Internet services without managing individual accounts, payments, or service changes. Livable works directly with your Internet provider to make setup, billing, and resident management simple from start to finish. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/the-easiest-way-to-offer-internet-at-your-property) ## [How to Do Utility Billing in AppFolio (the Easy Way)](https://blog.livable.com/how-to-do-utility-billing-in-appfolio-the-easy-way) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Sep 23, 2025, 8:17:14 AM Property managers rely on [AppFolio](https://hubs.la/Q03GY3dJ0) every day to simplify accounting, rent collection, and communication with residents. It’s an all-in-one platform designed to make property management easier. But when it comes to utility billing, many managers still end up juggling spreadsheets, absorbing costs, or spending hours trying to make the numbers work. The good news? There’s an easier way. With Livable’s self-service integration, you can handle utility billing directly inside your [AppFolio workflow](https://hubs.la/Q03Kzv0q0)—no extra software, no complicated add-ons. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/how-to-do-utility-billing-in-appfolio-the-easy-way) ## [Simplify Utility Billing and Boost ROI with Livable](https://blog.livable.com/simplify-utility-billing-and-boost-roi-with-livable) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Aug 1, 2025, 11:26:02 AM Property managers and independent rental owners face a common challenge: utility billing. It’s time-consuming, complex, and often leads to lost profits. Whether you’re not billing at all, struggling with outdated software, or frustrated with providers who don’t prioritize your needs, Livable offers a modern solution that simplifies billing, maximizes net operating income (NOI), and promotes sustainability. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/simplify-utility-billing-and-boost-roi-with-livable) ## [Boost Your Property ROI with Smart Utility Billing Solutions](https://blog.livable.com/boost-your-property-roi-with-smart-utility-billing-solutions) Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Jun 17, 2025, 9:43:41 PM ## Maximize Your Profit with Smarter Utility Management In today’s multifamily housing market, rising utility costs are a silent threat to property ROI. Water, electricity, and gas expenses can erode cash flow, reducing the returns that landlords and property managers rely on. Livable’s Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS) offers a powerful solution, enabling you to [recover utility costs](https://www.livable.com/utility-billing-cost-recovery/), streamline operations, and boost ROI. With a tech-driven platform integrated with tools like AppFolio, Livable empowers AAOA members to turn utility management into a profit driver. This article explores how RUBS can enhance your property’s financial performance and why Livable is the ideal partner. [Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/boost-your-property-roi-with-smart-utility-billing-solutions) [Previous](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team/page/4) [All posts](https://blog.livable.com/all) [Next](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team/page/6) #### 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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