Who Is Responsible for Submitting Meter Readings in a Rented Flat?

In a rented flat, submitting meter readings often becomes "no-man's land": the landlord assumes the tenant submits them, the tenant assumes the landlord does. The result is a bill based on an average and an unpleasant end of the month. Let's sort out who is responsible for what.

The short answer

To the utility provider (ESO, Ignitis, "Vilniaus vandenys"), the contract holder remains responsible — usually the landlord. But who physically takes the reading is something you can agree in the lease. The most common models:

• The tenant submits readings to the provider directly — the landlord adds the tenant as an additional user in the provider's self-service portal.
• The tenant gives the readings to the landlord, and the landlord submits them and issues the bill. This is the most common and most convenient option in the rental business.

Important: even if the tenant submits the readings, the obligation to the provider and the liability for any debt stay with the landlord. That's why the readings are worth keeping under control.

When to submit

Deadlines depend on the provider, but the general rules are:

• Electricity — usually by the end of the month, in the self-service portal or via an app.
• Cold water — often from the 21st to the last day of the month.
• Hot water / heating — within the window set by the provider.

If you don't submit on time, the bill is calculated on an average — and later, once the real reading is entered, you get a recalculation and sometimes a reconciliation charge. In the rental business this means a dispute: who covers the difference?

Smart meters change the game

Newer (ultrasonic, smart) meters transmit readings automatically — no submission needed. But most older flats still have mechanical meters that must be read by hand. As long as that's the case, you need a reliable process to collect readings from the tenant every month, on time.

How to collect readings without reminder chaos

The typical problem: the landlord messages the tenant on WhatsApp every month, sends reminders, waits for a photo, retypes the number into Excel. With several flats this turns into hours of work.

A better process:

1. One request at the start of the month — the tenant gets a link.
2. The tenant enters the readings in ~2 minutes — no account, no password.
3. The readings flow automatically into the bill — no retyping.
4. History is saved — when tenants change, you see the whole reading sequence and avoid disputes.

Why reading history matters

When a tenant moves out, a question often comes up: "what was the reading on move-in?" Without a recorded history, it's one person's word against another's. Initial readings captured in the handover–acceptance act, along with the sequence that follows, protect both sides.

Automated collection with Rivio

Rivio sends the tenant a reading request with a link, reminds them automatically, and the submitted readings flow straight into the monthly bill — with full history for every meter. Try it with one flat for free.