How to split utility costs between tenants fairly
How to split utility costs between tenants: equal, by area, by occupants or by meter, with worked examples, a comparison table and common mistakes.
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Service Charge Allocation Calculator
Allocate the shared costs of a building to its flats or units. Give each cost item its own split key, enter the advance payments already made and see what each unit owes or gets back.
Currency
EUREuro
USDUS dollar
GBPBritish pound
CHFSwiss franc
CADCanadian dollar
AUDAustralian dollar
Area unit
m²square metres
ft²square feet
Allocation per unit
| Unit | Share of total | Annual share | Per month | Advance payments made | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat 1 | 22.1% | €2,390.00 | €199.17 | €1,800.00 | €590.00 to pay |
| Flat 2 | 28.4% | €3,070.00 | €255.83 | €2,200.00 | €870.00 to pay |
| Flat 3 | 15.1% | €1,630.00 | €135.83 | €1,300.00 | €330.00 to pay |
| Flat 4 | 34.4% | €3,710.00 | €309.17 | €3,000.00 | €710.00 to pay |
| Total | 100.0% | €10,800.00 | €900.00 | €8,300.00 |
Breakdown by cost item
| Cost item | Split by | Flat 1 | Flat 2 | Flat 3 | Flat 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building insurance | Floor area | €520.00 | €640.00 | €360.00 | €880.00 |
| Cleaning of common areas | Equal per unit | €450.00 | €450.00 | €450.00 | €450.00 |
| Water and sewage | Occupants | €640.00 | €960.00 | €320.00 | €1,280.00 |
| Caretaker | Ownership shares | €500.00 | €600.00 | €360.00 | €540.00 |
| Waste collection | Occupants | €280.00 | €420.00 | €140.00 | €560.00 |
Which costs may be passed on and which split key applies is set by your lease, the building's rules or local law. Check them before issuing a statement.
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How it works
- List the units with their floor area, number of occupants and, if the building uses them, ownership shares.
- Add each cost item with its annual amount and choose how it is split: by area, equally per unit, by occupants or by shares.
- Enter the advance payments each unit has made during the year.
- Read each unit's share, monthly equivalent and balance. Open the breakdown to see every cost item per unit.
FAQ
Which split key should I use?
It depends on the cost and on what your lease, building rules or local law say. Floor area is common for insurance and general costs, occupants for water or waste, and equal shares for things every unit uses alike.
Can different costs use different keys?
Yes. Each cost item has its own key, which is how most real statements are built. Changing one key only changes that item's allocation.
What does the balance column mean?
It compares each unit's actual share with the advance payments it made. A positive balance is an amount still to pay; a refund means the unit paid more than its share.
Can I use ownership shares from the deed?
Yes. Enter each unit's shares in any unit (for example per thousand). Only the ratio between units matters, so they do not need to add up to a specific total.
Is this a legally valid statement?
No. The tool does the arithmetic. Which costs can be passed on, deadlines and formal requirements depend on your contract and local law.
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