In most apartments, water, sewer, trash removal, and sometimes heat are the utilities most likely to be included in rent. Electricity, gas, internet, and cable are more often paid separately, but it depends on the building and lease.

Quick Scoop

If a listing says “utilities included,” it usually means the landlord pays for some utility bills and rolls that cost into your rent. Commonly included items are water, sewer, trash, and sometimes heating or gas , while electricity and internet are often still your responsibility.

What to check

Before signing, ask:

  • Which utilities are included.
  • Whether there is a usage cap.
  • Who pays for electricity, gas, internet, and AC.
  • Whether utilities are billed separately or bundled into rent.

Typical setup

A simple rule of thumb:

  • Often included: water, sewer, trash.
  • Sometimes included: heat, gas.
  • Usually not included: electricity, internet, cable.

If you want, I can also turn this into a short apartment-rental checklist you can use before signing a lease.