When renting in Portland, what kind of utilities are usually paid by the renters?
What you pay and what the landlord pays varies by the rental, though in general, in apartment buildings the building has its own trash service (a dumpster, free of charge). When you rent a duplex or a whole house, you are more likely to be asked to pay for garbage, sewer, and water as well as gas and electric. If you pay for trash service, figure about $18/month. You should always take into account the cost of utilities when renting and make sure you ask what is included and what isn’t and make sure it is clear in any lease you sign. Ask about electric, heat, water/sewer and garbage. Water is a special case. Older buildings may not have separate water meters for invidual units, but that may be changing all over the US. I’ve heard that the EPA has done studies showing that when renters have to pay their water bill, they use far less, so the EPA may require landlords to bill renters directly for water instead of “including” water in the rent amount. In 2000, I lived in a large highrise b
