Ratio Utility Billing
More Profits, Less Waste.
Livable’s Utility Billing System allocates for water, sewage, trash and other utilities allowing property owners to eliminate the guesswork and more accurately and fairly determine costs to bill back each Resident.
What if You Could Recover Up to 90% of Your Utilities?
The flat rate model of billing Residents for utilities by simply including them with rent has proven to weaken the investments of IROs. On the other hand, the analytics aspect of Ratio Utility Billing enables accurate disbursement of costs to Residents, alleviating the expenses incurred by guesswork, generating new revenue for Housing Providers and encouraging Resident conservation.
Why Ratio Utility Billing?
- Transparent and fair
- No expensive equipment to purchase, install or maintain
- Easy to update as Residents move in or out
- Includes in-unit amenities
- Allows for common area utilities to be owner-paid or shared among Residents
But don’t take our word for it. Use our savings calculator to see just how much you could be recovering each month using Livable.
Livable Pro is the first billing platform designed with the independent rental owner in mind.
Solutions for Properties of All Types
Utility Management. Cost Recovery. Real Conservation.
Single Family
Multi-Family
Student Housing & Co-Living
Condo / HOA
Commercial
Our Features
Why Choose Livable and Ratio Utility Billing?
At Livable, our mission is to help Housing Providers save money while encouraging conservation. Ratio Utility Billing Systems help Housing Providers dramatically reduce consumption at their properties by making Residents financially responsible for their usage. Using Livable’s Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS), it’s easy to divide a property’s utility bills. Livable’s system can allocate for water, sewer, trash and more. With RUBs, you have the option to bill using multiple factors including unit occupancy, square footage and amenities. By opting for Livable, Housing Providers enjoy the convenience of an easy to use system with Livable Pro and the benefits of a healthier NOI thanks to Ratio Utility Billing.
Works even with Rent Control
Implement at lease inception! Don’t get stuck subsiding Resident utilities for years.
No Unit Minimums
Livable works to generate new revenue whether you have 1 unit or 100!
No Hardware needed
Nothing to install, nothing to maintain. No power needed!
No Commitment
We know you’ll love Livable – but if you don’t, you can leave any time.
Residents can easily pay online
Residents can use credit or debit cards or ACH to pay through their portal.
Managers can update bills through a dedicated portal
It’s easy to add and update bills, occupancy and more in the Manager Portal.
See new revenue in 60 days!
Bill, wait for Residents to pay, get your money from Livable.
How it Works
Setting Up Livable Pro is Quick & Easy
The Livable Pro platform makes signing up and adding new properties and new Residents an easy process. With the Pro platform, all properties and individual units are organized and easily accessed to save property owners and managers time and money.
Add Properties & Residents
Add each of the properties, including their name and address, that you’d like to enroll in Livable’s RUBS program. Then configure each unit by specifying the size and number of Residents in each unit.
Add Utilities & Bills
Enter all of the utilities for each property (e.g., water, electricity, gas) through either manual entry or data import, including their costs.
Start Saving Money
Livable Pro calculates potential savings based on the entered utility cost information and allocation methods. With your utilities better divided, watch your savings pile up and prepare for more Resident reporting engagement!
Learn More
Livable Pro Blog
Fair & Easy: Debunking Common Myths About RUBS
In the rental industry, utility billing is full of misconceptions, especially among Residents. Master-billed utility costs are often simply divided equally among units, or included with rent, regardless of each Resident’s consumption.
When to Hire a Property Manager and What to Look for If You Do
Controlling Costs as Utility Rates Rise
At Livable, our mission is to help save Housing Providers money while encouraging conservation by making residents responsible for their utility usage, especially water.
What Our Customers Are Saying
Before learning about Livable via the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, we had no knowledge about the RUBS program as a whole. As a small Mom and Pop (mostly Mom) operation who ourselves are working individuals, and in an environment where the costs of water, sewer and other utilities climb annually and sometimes twice in a calendar year, Livable has been a game changer as represented in our bottom line! Livable's customer service has always been prompt and very responsive. Bravo to the entire Livable team who have made our lives as working property owners a lot easier! Great job guys!!!
Darlene P
Before learning about Livable via the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, we had no knowledge about the RUBS program as a whole. As a small Mom and Pop (mostly Mom) operation who ourselves are working individuals, and in an environment where the costs of water, sewer and other utilities climb annually and sometimes twice in a calendar year, Livable has been a game changer as represented in our bottom line!
Livable's customer service has always been prompt and very responsive. Bravo to the entire Livable team who have made our lives as working property owners a lot easier! Great job guys!!!
Darlene P
Ever since the drought season has consistently happened in our state, I started to look for a program that would allow for a landlord, and also tenant, to some extent, share the responsibility of water conservation. I was not looking just to improve my revenue, but to be mindful of our drought situation as well. My property manager did quite a research and found Livable. It was an excellent choice. Livable utility management offers a conscious responsibility to the owners and to the renters to ensure that the utility ratio billing is fair for both landlords and tenants. Livable lives up to its simple program implementation. They are easy to connect with. I get immediate help if I need it. My suggestion to any multi-family building owner is to try Livable. Finally the master meters are slowly becoming obsolete. Water conservation is a new norm. Thank you, Livable.
Cora N
Ever since the drought season has consistently happened in our state, I started to look for a program that would allow for a landlord, and also tenant, to some extent, share the responsibility of water conservation. I was not looking just to improve my revenue, but to be mindful of our drought situation as well. My property manager did quite a research and found Livable. It was an excellent choice. Livable utility management offers a conscious responsibility to the owners and to the renters to ensure that the utility ratio billing is fair for both landlords and tenants. Livable lives up to its simple program implementation. They are easy to connect with. I get immediate help if I need it. My suggestion to any multi-family building owner is to try Livable. Finally the master meters are slowly becoming obsolete. Water conservation is a new norm. Thank you, Livable.
Cora N
Livable is an invaluable partner to our organization. For years in our rent controlled City, the only way to increase bottom line was through unit turnover. Utility costs increased by as much as 20%/yr, which directly impacted NOI. With Livable, we are able to not only recoup most of our utility costs, but also are able to pass through future utility price increases. Additionally, we have seen an overall reduction in utility usage since our tenants are incentivized to conserve. The staff at Livable is amazing. Anytime I have had a question or needed assistance, they have immediately been there to help. If you’re reading this, you’re probably on the fence about partnering with them. I promise you’ll see an increase in your bottom line and wonder why you didn’t partner with them sooner.
Ryan S
Livable is an invaluable partner to our organization. For years in our rent controlled City, the only way to increase bottom line was through unit turnover. Utility costs increased by as much as 20%/yr, which directly impacted NOI. With Livable, we are able to not only recoup most of our utility costs, but also are able to pass through future utility price increases. Additionally, we have seen an overall reduction in utility usage since our tenants are incentivized to conserve. The staff at Livable is amazing. Anytime I have had a question or needed assistance, they have immediately been there to help. If you’re reading this, you’re probably on the fence about partnering with them. I promise you’ll see an increase in your bottom line and wonder why you didn’t partner with them sooner.
Ryan S
Utility billing is a tricky part of any tenancy. Typically I covered water, sewer and garbage in multi unit buildings because they came as one bill. However the Livable system has helped me recoup water and sewer charges from a three unit property. I have found for the non-tech savvy like myself your system can be a bit daunting. I would tell anyone who is like myself in that aspect that your customer service is amazing. You have patiently helped me for the last few years, each time moving me further down the learning path. I now feel comfortable logging on and checking my property dashboard. Your system works well but your customer service is lights out!! I would highly recommend Livable to a property owner.
Neil
Utility billing is a tricky part of any tenancy. Typically I covered water, sewer and garbage in multi unit buildings because they came as one bill. However the Livable system has helped me recoup water and sewer charges from a three unit property. I have found for the non-tech savvy like myself your system can be a bit daunting. I would tell anyone who is like myself in that aspect that your customer service is amazing. You have patiently helped me for the last few years, each time moving me further down the learning path. I now feel comfortable logging on and checking my property dashboard. Your system works well but your customer service is lights out!! I would highly recommend Livable to a property owner.
Neil
Livable has benefited my business through offsetting utility expenses through prorata distribution to the lessee's and during the process reduced water usage by 25%. I no longer have to worry about what the amount of the bill will be as the tenants also have
an interest in not wasting water. The Livable team is very proactive and always responds within 24 hours to my emails or voicemail messages. I would definitely recommend other landlords / lessors use Livable for the reasons cited above.
Ryan G
Livable has benefited my business through offsetting utility expenses through prorata distribution to the lessee's and during the process reduced water usage by 25%. I no longer have to worry about what the amount of the bill will be as the tenants also have
an interest in not wasting water. The Livable team is very proactive and always responds within 24 hours to my emails or voicemail messages. I would definitely recommend other landlords / lessors use Livable for the reasons cited above.
Ryan G
Technology Partners
