O/T Question for Renters... High Water Bill Due to Grass Installation?
This is totally O/T but my husband and I are renting a brand new house. It was just built when we moved in half a year or so ago, and as a result, there was no grass yet. We JUST received noticed that they are laying sod tomorrow and we would like to prepare for this. It is totally out of the blue... we knew it would be happening at some point but didn't know when.
My parents mentioned that when they put sod down, they had to spend an extra $500 or so dollars each month for the first 2-3 months on their water bill to water it. I just wanted to get opinions... If my water bill raises that significantly, should I ask my landlord to contribute/pay for this? I know lawn maintenance is usually a tenants responsibility, but this seems more like a property investment than usual maintenance.
Just figured I'd throw this out there in case someone has experience here 
I'm getting ready to take mat leave and I could really use that extra money each month. Of course, if it raises my bill by anything under $100 per month, I won't bother bringing it up.
WOW $30-35 a quarter is
WOW $30-35 a quarter is cheap! A normal monthly bill where I live runs $50-75 a month. And that's if we don't water the yard and the kids don't play in the pools or sprinkler.
WOW I pay about $120 a month
WOW
I pay about $120 a month as it is, and we use water pretty conservatively! My parent's house is down the street and they paid about $120 too, so I'm nervous that I'll have the same $500 a month cost they did once the sod is down!
I mean, I'm happy to finally have grass, but it's not my property and I have no interest in investing in it like it is. lol.
I know in my area that in
I know in my area that in order to get an occupancy permit, you need to have planted the lawn. I guess they either got away with it.. or it wasn't a requirement.
That being said, I am guessing that THE LANDLORDS are the ones who have ordered the sod to be installed at their expense. If that is the case, I would definitely get their buy in on paying the difference between your "normal" usage and the usage that will be necessary to follow the sod maintenance requirements. I wouldn't be at all afraid to contact them and express your concerns and work out how it will be handled. It would be best to document in writing whatever that arrangement is.. whether they repay you, or allow you to deduct from rent. Maybe you could use your last 6 months average usage to develop a baseline?
It is not only going to cost you money for water but also the extra time/responsibility to make sure the sod doesn't die when it is vulnerable.
If this is something that the
If this is something that the landlord is laying down on their own accord, they need to pay for your water bill or have someone come out and water the sod as needed
Astroturf.
Astroturf.
I would speak to the landlord
I would speak to the landlord before the sod is down. I would have an average of any previous water bills if available and anything above that is landlord.
I pay for water monthly and i think the highest has been $7.00, lowest was 4.00. I pay more for customer charge then usage lol 4 people. I would probably freak if it hit anything over $30.00 lol.
Where in the world do you
Where in the world do you live that has a water bill that cheap?!?!
I have zero water bill..lol.
I have zero water bill..lol. I'm on a well so it is just the cost of electricity that probably wouldn't go up much at all.
We do have a home on an island that has a fixed water/sewer cost/month.
I suggest speak to the land
I suggest speak to the land lord and maybe to other suggestion costing less, but ask him about the additional cost,
Maybe he will give you discount on the rent....
alternative - start looking for another place to live, I know not the best solution...
but usually the garden is the renter's responsibility and the cost there off...
The only "situation" that
The only "situation" that matters, is that she is a renter, and putting in and establishing sod, is a property investment that the landlord should be 100% responsible for. It has nothing to do with her pregnancy or maternity leave.
The water bill, she is asking
The water bill, she is asking about the water bill to establish the sod. That should be the landlord's responsibility.
Check your lease. If you
Check your lease. If you are liable for lawn care call the land lord and discuss the water issue with him. Inform him that you will be happy to care for the lawn once it is established but cannot afford the water bills for establishing a healthy newly sodded lawn.
Congrats on the baby.
Woooow, that amount of money
Woooow, that amount of money for the water bill is really ... insane actually. I actually think that it depends on the area where you are living, as I am getting way smaller bills, or maybe there is another reason behind that. I am not really sure, but taking into consideration the fact that the house is rather new, you should not be getting that kind of bills actually. I guess you should go for some artificial grass from https://itsartificialgrass.com/ as you won't have to water it. And you know, their artificial grass is really amazing.