RUBS: Vacant Units, Move-Ins and Common Areas

Common areas. Water used for irrigation, a pool or a laundry room isn't any tenant's. A common-area deduction takes a percentage off the bill before the split, and the owner pays it. Texas requires at least 5% for water, or 25% when the property has common-area irrigation that isn't separately metered, under 16 TAC §24.281.

Vacant units. If a unit is empty, its share of a square-foot, bedroom or per-unit split usually stays with the owner; passing it to the other tenants would make each tenant's bill depend on how many neighbours there are. Occupant-based shares are different: an empty unit has no occupants, so it has no share.

Move-ins and move-outs. A unit let for 15 days of a 30-day period counts for half. Ratiotally scales every unit's weight by its days occupied and keeps the empty days with the owner (or, if you choose, spreads them over the other units).

Last reviewed 2026-11-04. General information, not legal advice. Check your lease and your state and local law.