What are the methods to divide costs?

Depending on what type of consumption is concerned (cold water, domestic hot water, heating, etc.), there are different methods of calculation. Let’s take a look at them:

Cold water consumption

In a lot of old buildings, the municipal water supply is counted as it enters the building by a main meter and invoiced to the manager of the building, which then divides this bill between the different residents of the building, most often by means of small sub-meters placed at the entry of each apartment.

Consumption of domestic hot water

Similarly, when units are not equipped with individual domestic hot water production equipment, this water is produced centrally and distributed throughout the building. Division of costs is made via sub-counters of the same type as those used for cold water but adapted to temperatures that can reach 90°C.

Consumption of heat

The division of these costs may be made without a shared meter (heating costs are then divided among residents in conformity with the traditional rules applicable in apartments such as shares of ownership or surface area) or with a shared meter (the heating fees can then be divided into multiple areas: energy and fuel costs and other heating fees like upkeep and maintenance)

There are two kinds of shared meters used to calculate heat consumption:

• heat cost allocators, also called calorimeters, which are placed on each radiator. This is the most common equipment.
• heat meters, which calculate the exact amount of energy consumed by each unit.