Rental contracts with utilities included: guide for landlords and tenants

Article published on September 15, 2025 on homacoop.it; the data refer to that date.

Include utilities in medium-long term rental contracts: what to know and how to protect yourself

When signing a medium-long term rental contract, one of the most delicate points concerns the management of household utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet, waste tax). Deciding whether toinclude them in the monthly rent is not only a practical choice, but also a strategic one: it can influence the competitiveness of the property, the clarity of relations between the parties and the legal protection of landlord and tenant.

Why it is convenient to include utilities

More and more often, owners and tenants are opting for solutions.” All Inclusive ”, especially in contexts such as rentals for university students, young workers and mobile professionals.

Here are the main advantages:

• Attractiveness of the property: a fee including utilities is perceived as simpler and more immediate. For home-seekers, knowing that 'everything is inclusive' is a reassuring factor.
• Bureaucratic simplification: avoiding transfers or takeovers reduces administrative time and costs.
• Predictability of expenses: the tenant has a fixed fee and does not risk surprises in the bill, while the landlord can set a clear monthly flat rate.
• Faster rental speed: properties with utilities included tend to reduce vacancy times, especially in student markets and university cities.

The risks to consider

Alongside the advantages, there are also critical aspects that require careful management:

• Excessive consumption: without limits, the tenant may have no incentive to save energy.
• Complex adjusters: If a maximum ceiling is not established, the owner risks having to cover higher than expected costs.
• Administrative management: the monitoring of bills is still the responsibility of the landlord.

The most adopted solutions

With experience in the real estate sector gained in more than 10 years of activity, we recommend some consolidated formulas below:

• Flat rate with adjuster: a fixed monthly amount is established for utilities (for example 100€), with an adjustment at the end of the year based on real consumption.
• All inclusive fee with maximum roof: everything is included in the fee, but an annual or monthly spending limit is indicated beyond which the tenant must supplement.
• Excluded utilities but in the name of the owner: in this case, the bills remain in the owner's name, but are distributed and paid separately by the tenants.

Legal aspects not to be overlooked

From a contractual point of view, it is essential that:

• the methods of managing utilities are spelled out in writing in the lease agreement;
• be clear which users are included and with what limits;
• the adjustment mechanism is established (deadlines, payment methods, possible penalties).

A well-drafted contract minimizes the risk of disputes and guarantees greater protection for both parties.

Conclusion: the most effective choice

Including utilities in medium-long term rental contracts can turn into a competitive advantagefor landlords and aguarantee of serenity for tenants. The key is transparent management, with clear clauses and adequate contractual tools.

At HOMA, specialized inreal estate management, student housing and property managementfor years, we support landlords in defining complete and secure contracts, guaranteeinglegal assistance, bill management and tenant selection. And for those who don't really want to worry about anything, with the benefit of obtaining a profit from their property every month, there is the pension service.

If you want to enhance your property and entrust its management to professionals in the sector, contact us: we will transform your rental into a simple, profitable and carefree solution.

This text is an automatic translation from Italian, produced with artificial intelligence (Amazon Translate).