livable.com

[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.livable.com/#organization","name":"Livable","url":"https://www.livable.com/","logo":"https://www.livable.com/assets/brand/livable-logo.svg","email":"help@livable.com","contactPoint":[{"@type":"ContactPoint","email":"help@livable.com","contactType":"customer support","areaServed":"US"}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.livable.com/#website","name":"Livable","url":"https://www.livable.com/","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.livable.com/#organization"}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is RUBS and how does it work?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"RUBS stands for Ratio Utility Billing System, a method used to fairly divide shared utility costs among residents in buildings without individual unit meters. Instead of absorbing the full utility bill, property managers use RUBS to allocate shared expenses based on measurable factors like occupancy, square footage, and in-unit amenities. Livable’s proprietary software handles the math by weighing the relevant factors for each unit, including resident count, unit size, and amenities like in-unit washers, then calculating each resident’s fair share automatically. The result is a transparent, defensible allocation residents can review in detail."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is RUBS legal?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, and Livable has been operating compliantly since 2009. RUBS is legal in most U.S. markets, though rules vary by state, county, city, and sometimes by utility provider. The important question is not only whether RUBS is allowed, but whether your program is administered correctly for your market. Livable’s legal team monitors ordinance requirements across the markets we serve, and our internal billing policies often exceed local requirements. We also maintain allocation tables, bill copies, and statement disclosures so your program remains transparent and defensible. Recent legislation such as Colorado HB26-1013, signed on March 26, 2026, further clarified RUBS as an authorized billing method in Colorado when requirements are met."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Does Livable integrate with my property management system?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Livable is a certified AppFolio Stack Partner, and can also use AI-assisted workflows to support integration-like processes where a native connection is not available. For AppFolio users, Livable offers a native integration that syncs utility charges directly into the AppFolio workflow. Residents pay through AppFolio as part of their normal rent payment, with no separate portal required and no double entry for your team. Livable calculates the charges and pushes them directly into AppFolio for collection."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Will this create more work for my team?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No, Livable is designed to reduce manual work. We handle the parts of utility administration that usually create the most overhead: acquiring utility bills, calculating allocations, generating resident statements, collecting payments, and answering resident billing questions. Your team can review and approve charges through the Property Manager dashboard, while Livable handles the operational heavy lifting. For teams that want fully hands-off billing, the Bill Automation tier handles the workflow end to end. For teams that prefer more control, the Self-Service tier automates data entry while keeping your team in the approval seat."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What allocation methods do you support?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Livable supports every major allocation method, so your setup is not forced into a one-size-fits-all template. Shared utility costs can be allocated by occupancy, square footage, fixed percentage split, by unit, sub-metered usage, actual consumption, or custom weighting that combines multiple factors. In-unit amenities such as washers, dryers, and dishwashers can also be factored in because they meaningfully affect consumption. Every allocation is visible to residents through their portal, including a detailed breakdown of how their share was calculated."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do residents pay their utility bills?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It depends on how your property is set up, and Livable supports both paths. For properties using supported property management software, utility charges are synced directly into the system residents already use, so they pay as part of their existing rent payment without creating a separate account. For direct billing, residents receive statements and pay through the Livable Resident Portal by free ACH, debit card, or credit card, with Auto-Pay and multilingual support available. In both cases, residents can access a dedicated portal to view their statement, see how charges were calculated, and review the underlying utility bill."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What if a resident disputes a charge?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Livable is built to handle resident questions directly, so your team does not have to manage the billing back-and-forth. Every resident statement includes a full allocation table showing how charges were calculated, along with access to the underlying utility bill, with sensitive information redacted when needed. This level of transparency resolves most questions before they become disputes. When residents do have questions, Livable’s support team handles them directly by phone and email Monday through Friday, with a 24/7 AI agent available on demand. In the rare case of a formal dispute, Livable provides documentation to support your position, including allocation methodology, bill copies, and statement history."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How quickly can we get started?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Most properties are up and running within a few weeks. The process starts with a free consultation where Livable reviews your property setup, utility mix, and billing goals to design the right configuration for your portfolio. Then we configure your properties, integrate with your property management software when applicable, and prepare your allocation tables. Once setup is complete, Livable either begins acquiring bills directly or trains your team on how to input them, then calculates allocations and generates resident statements automatically each cycle. There is no long implementation project; after a consultation, we can give you a realistic timeline based on your portfolio."}}]}]