When deciding where to sign a lease for the upcoming year, one of the most important factors to take into account is the total monthly cost for your apartment. Beyond the basic rental rates showcased on apartment websites, you’ll have added monthly expenses and fees, such as utilities, parking, and pet charges. It’s crucial to have a solid understanding of how much these extra fees will cost you each month.
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At Rambler, we’ve assisted hundreds of students in finding their ideal homes for the school year. To ensure you have a clear understanding of the leasing process and the complete costs included in signing a lease at a downtown Athens student apartment, we’ve written this article to break down the utility fees and how they’re calculated.
We will answer commonly asked questions like:
- How are utility costs calculated?
- What is the average monthly cost of utilities?
- How will utility costs be billed?
Cost of Utilities at Student Apartments near UGA
For most student housing apartments in Athens, all utilities are included in your rental rate outside of electricity and water. These utilities may include gas, sewage and internet/cable.
How are utility costs calculated?
Electricity and water usage in each apartment is usually individually metered, and residents are billed on a monthly cycle.
Depending on the apartment complex’s policy, the costs are split evenly between roommates or according to each roommate’s usage.
What is the average monthly cost of utilities?
Once utility costs are divided amongst roommates, the cost can range from about $15 to $70 depending on usage, amount of roommates and the apartment complex.
This can vary greatly between apartments and may even fall outside of this range. Be sure to ask the properties you’re interested in what the average cost of utilities is each month when you tour.
Read Next: 15 Questions to Ask When Touring an Apartment in Athens
How will utility costs be billed?
Utility costs are billed separately from rent installments. Most student apartments will charge utility fees at the end of each month based on usage. This amount will typically be billed through a third-party app or service.
For example, Rambler utilities will be billed monthly via ConService. ConService coordinates with the utility company to collect your grand total and split that price evenly between all your roommates. This way, you don’t have to worry about who is paying which month or who you’ll need to Venmo.
Read Next: Ultimate Guide to Living Off-Campus for UGA Students
We hope this article gives you a better understanding of the costs associated with living at a downtown Athens student apartment. If you have any further questions about utility costs, or would like to learn more about Rambler, please contact our leasing staff!
