---
title: Livable Now Blog | rental
description: rental |
---

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[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/) 

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### Posts by tags:

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- [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 on rental

## [When to Hire a Property Manager and What to Look for If You Do](https://blog.livable.com/when-to-hire-property-manager)

 Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on May 3, 2023, 4:57:04 PM

Managing a property is time-consuming, especially if you own multiple properties or live at a distance from your assets. Many property owners see their rental income as a means to enjoy their lives, rather a full-time job of maintenance and problem-solving. If you see owning property as the means to more leisure time, hiring a property manager is essential.

A professional property manager handles everything from rent collection to maintenance, making **your** life easier and freer, with fewer headaches. But not all owners need a property manager and not all property managers are created equal. The big questions you need to answer before making that investment are “When is it time to hire a property manager?” and “What should I look for when hiring one?”

[Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/when-to-hire-property-manager)

## [Renter's Insurance: Covering Their Assets](https://blog.livable.com/renters-insurance)

 Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Apr 6, 2023, 9:11:57 AM

You’ve seen ads for rental insurance. But do you know what it covers OR if you can require tenants to get it? 

[Rental insurance](https://www.usnews.com/insurance/renters-insurance/what-does-renters-insurance-cover)is a specific type of policy that covers possessions within the home as opposed to the home itself. It is highly beneficial to your residents in the event of flood or similar disaster since you are not responsible for damage to personal possessions - only the property itself. Some [property owners may require](https://millersmutualgroup.com/resources/blog/renters-insurance-a-benefit-to-landlords-and-tenants/)tenants to obtain rental insurance. Even if you don’t require your residents to have renal insurance, you can advise them to get it. 

[Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/renters-insurance)

## [Choose Gardens Over Lawns for a Healthier Community and Planet](https://blog.livable.com/choose-gardens-over-lawns)

 Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Mar 22, 2023, 8:31:52 AM

Single-family homes, duplexes, multifamily complexes and businesses have traditionally fought for idyllic lawns with the aim of causing envy among neighbors and passersby. But at Livable, we think we have a better idea! 

It’s time to level up and consider trading the battle of lawn envy for a healthier, more colorful and more sustainable option: building a garden. Replacing lawns with gardens is a fantastic option for a better environment and overall way of living. Check out our reasons for installing a garden over the manicured grass, plus suggestions for the kind of garden you could opt for. Now is the time to start planning for an amazing garden this summer! 

[Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/choose-gardens-over-lawns)

## [Utility Billing: The Country’s Most and Least Expensive Cities](https://blog.livable.com/the-countrys-most-and-least-expensive-cities-for-utilities)

 Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Sep 2, 2021, 9:00:00 AM

*“At Livable, our goal has always been to help save the environment while also saving apartment owners money by making residents responsible for their utility usage. We have seen that making tenants more aware of their usage can* [*create significant savings*](https://blog.livable.com/our-favorite-apartment-industry-tech)*. But just how much those savings might be can vary greatly by location, depending on local utility rates. With that in mind, read on to find out where your city ranks in the below list of most and least expensive utility costs”*  - Daniel Sharabi - CEO

 

## **Water **

[Apartment List](https://www.apartmentlist.com/renter-life/average-utility-bill) showed in 2021 Honolulu in the top spot with an average of just under **$90**, with second-place Oxnard, California coming in at **$83**. The West Coast dominates the list of the most expensive average water bills in the U.S. as of 2021 - San Diego took the third-most-expensive spot with **$79**. San Jose, Sacramento, Seattle, San Francisco, Stockton and Portland all made it into the top ten as well. In the tenth position, with an average water bill of **$63** per month, Virginia Beach was the only East Coast city to break into the top ten.

 

The East Coast tended to be among the cheapest places for water bills, with Upstate New York leading the way. Albany had the least-expensive average water bill at just over **$20** a month, but Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo all had water bills under **$30** a month as well.

 

## **Gas **

Honolulu also took first for the most-expensive gas bill and was the only city in the survey to break **$90** a month for this utility. Other than that, most of the other most-expensive gas cities were in colder cities since gas bills are often an indication of high heating costs. Detroit, Buffalo, Omaha, Chicago and Boston all had average gas bills above **$80** a month. 

 

## **Electric**

Electricity was by far the biggest single bill in all markets and the only utility that didn’t seem to follow a particular geographic pattern. Birmingham, Alabama took the top spot with an average electric bill close to **$200** a month. Augusta, Georgia and Memphis, Tennessee all had bills that came in around $180 a month, which we can assume is due in part to higher cooling costs in the south. Connecticut also had several cities in the top ten, because electrical transmission rates are higher in the Northeast, as are land costs for building power plants. Boise, Idaho had the lowest total average utility bill at **$186.**

 

Due in large part to its **$184** a month average electric bill, Bridgeport, Connecticut has the highest total utility cost of any city in the U.S., coming in at a whopping **$353** per month for residents there.

 

Whether you're on the West Coast, East Coast, and everywhere in between, it's always smart to separate rent from utilities! Don’t let high energy usage take you by surprise, Livable’s user-friendly [Property Manager Dashboard](https://www.livable.com/property-manager-dashboard/) makes it easy to see what’s happening at your building and immediately increases the value of your asset. [Book a call with a Livable team member](https://comesave.livable.com/meetings/livable/livable-discovery-call) today to start saving! 

 

[![Come save with us!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4146755/59b2d6d1-17e3-427b-b861-0cb4c5c6a418.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4146755/59b2d6d1-17e3-427b-b861-0cb4c5c6a418)

 

---

 

An easy and simple change you can make in your space is to switch to energy-efficient light bulbs such as LEDs that help reduce your bills. Regular incandescent bulbs use heat instead of light to release most of their energy. The modern LED style bulbs save a lot of electricity and money over time as they are energy efficient and last ten times longer compared to regular bulbs.

[Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/the-countrys-most-and-least-expensive-cities-for-utilities)

## [Rent Control Is Back on the Ballot in 2020](https://blog.livable.com/rent-control-is-back-on-the-ballot-in-2020)

 Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Oct 1, 2020, 12:00:00 AM

## Here We Go Again

It may be 2020 but it’s starting to feel like 2018 all over again. A big election is looming and tenant advocates are once again bringing a rent control measure to the California ballot. 

[Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/rent-control-is-back-on-the-ballot-in-2020)

## [Covid-19 Pandemic and Renter Habits](https://blog.livable.com/could-lifting-restrictions-mean-a-bounce-back-in-rental-demand)

 Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on May 1, 2020, 4:03:00 PM

During the Corona Virus pandemic, there have been several lockdowns resulting in weeks of remaining sheltered in place. From construction to real estate and[property management](https://blog.livable.com/leasing-what-an-occupant-needs-to-know-about-rent-control), many of the vendors that property owners rely on have been put at a standstill time and time again. In turn, renters have been anxious to make a move when there is a window of opportunity offered.  Are your units ready to be shown?

[Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/could-lifting-restrictions-mean-a-bounce-back-in-rental-demand)

## [What you need to know for 2020](https://blog.livable.com/what-you-need-to-know-for-2020)

 Posted by [Livable Content Team](https://blog.livable.com/author/written-with-love-by-the-livable-content-team) on Dec 1, 2019, 1:44:00 PM

 As we get ready to say goodbye to 2019, it’s only natural to look ahead. In addition to what is sure to be a heated national political season in 2020, there are several statewide measures in California to keep an eye on, including a [possible overhaul of Prop. 13](https://ballotpedia.org/California_Tax_on_Commercial_and_Industrial_Properties_for_Education_and_Local_Government_Funding_Initiative_(2020)) and another proposition that would allow municipalities [to extend rent control](http://www.capradio.org/articles/2019/10/28/californians-could-see-new-rent-control-measure-on-november-2020-ballot/) to most units that are at least 15 years old. 

[Read More →](https://blog.livable.com/what-you-need-to-know-for-2020)

[All posts](https://blog.livable.com/all)

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#### 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

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- [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)
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- [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

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