Summer water usage in a rental: why it spikes, and how to settle it

In summer, water usage in a rental typically spikes: garden watering, more guests, more frequent showers and filling a pool or paddling pool all push consumption up. The correct way to settle it is unchanged: the difference between the meter’s opening and closing reading × unit price + standing charge — the seasonal spike shows up automatically in the read value. (The context here is Hungarian; adapt to your market.)

This article shows why summer water usage rises, how to avoid a dispute, and what to know about garden watering.

Why does water usage spike in summer?

The most common reasons:

• Garden watering — for a house with a garden, the biggest item; one watering can be hundreds of litres.
• More guests / holidays — more people often live in the flat over the summer.
• More frequent showers — in the heat, several a day is common.
• Filling a pool or paddling pool — a one-off but large item.

Because of these, a summer water bill can easily be 1.5–2× the winter one — this isn’t an error, it’s actual use.

How to settle it correctly

The method doesn’t change with the season:

Consumption = closing reading − opening reading, then amount due = consumption × unit price + standing charge.

The key is to use the read value, not an estimate — summer is exactly when estimating misleads most, because usage differs from the norm. The full process is in utility bill settlement for rentals, A-Z; for a ready sheet, see the rental settlement template.

Garden watering: the sewage-fee discount

If the flat has a garden and you water a lot, worth knowing: water used for watering doesn’t load the sewage network, so a sewage-fee discount is typically available — either by fitting a separate watering (sub)meter, or via a flat-rate summer discount. Always check the exact conditions and amount with your local water utility, as it varies by provider.

How to avoid a summer dispute (3 tips)

1. Read at the start and end of the season. A separate reading in early and late summer makes the seasonal surplus clear.
2. Agree on watering in advance. If the tenant tends the garden, record who bears the cost of the watering water.
3. Document with a photo. A dated meter photo matters especially in summer, because higher usage is easier to dispute.

Where RentTab helps

RentTab reads the water meter from a photo too and calculates consumption automatically — so the summer spike appears as a transparent line item in the settlement, not a surprise at the end of the season. RentTab doesn’t handle money; it produces and records the settlement.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the summer water bill double the winter one? Garden watering, more guests and more frequent showers — that’s actual consumption, not a billing error. The meter reading proves it.

Who pays for the watering water? It depends on the contract. If the tenant tends the garden, record in writing who bears the cost of the watering water.

Can I get a sewage-fee discount for watering? Usually yes, because watering water doesn’t load the sewer — via a separate watering meter or a summer flat-rate discount. Check the conditions with your local water utility.

Can I settle summer water by estimate? Better to avoid it: in summer usage differs from the norm, so an estimate easily causes over- or underpayment. Always use the read value.