Something ain’t right in the trailer park.
As we first reported Tuesday, the companies managing some mobile home communities are getting rid of individual water bills.This means everyone pays the same amount, no matter how many people live in their household — a policy that has many people mad.We spoke to Regional Manager Lynn Granata Wednesday. She sent us February’s water and sewer bill.It was $8,329.27. Divide that by the number of mobile homes in the Pine Meadows Park and it equals the $55 flat rate neighbors are being charged. She says they’re not overcharging.
Why not just replace the meters? My water bill has never been higher then $14 a month. My highest was $25 before I fixed my leaky toilet. The thing that irks me the most about this is the way affordable housing slum lords screw over their tenants, and not because they are making a little extra money on the side (because as mentioned in the story that is illegal) but by being too cheap to fix an obvious problem with the water meter(s). If someone is renting from you, and paying their rent, you have an obligation to repair things that need to be fixed instead passing those maintenance costs onto your tenants.
$55/month is unconscionable. As a single resident of a single family townhome, my monthly water bill of about $14 matches that reference above. Yes, in-ground sprinkler system watering of the common property turf areas . . . and water for the community swimming pool . . . does represent an additional seasonal water expense, and that’s paid for out of my monthly HOA fees. But, I seriously doubt mobile home park management is placing a high priority on extensive irrigation to maintain lush, emerald green lawn areas in a rental neighborhood. It sounds like those residents are truly getting “hosed”, and not in a refreshing way.
My apartment complex (in MN) started doing something similar to this. What really ticks me off is that I pay $1.25 to do my laundry (which takes up a bunch of water), and then end up paying for the water again when it gets split up between apartments at the end of the month. I guess I did sign the lease, though, so I shouldn’t expect too much pity.
(P.S. my monthly water bills have been in the $35 range in the dead of winter. Once lawn-watering starts and the pool re-opens, we’ll see what happens.)
(P.P.S. Be thankful for how cheap water is in SF. You really are spoiled.)
My water and sewer bills for a small two-person residence in Lennox are typically in the $50 – $80 range depending on the season. SF water is extremely cheap.
BTW – ALL COSTS of rental property are passed on to the tenants. Every penny – and then some.