Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-25,127
Separate metering for water by landlord; requirements; not public utility.
Operative Text
(a) The term "public utility" within the meaning of K.S.A. 66-104, and amendments thereto, shall not include any person or entity in the business of being a landlord who is supplied water by a city or water district and who furnishes such water to its tenants pursuant to subsection (a)(5) of K.S.A. 58-2553 or subsection (a)(6) of K.S.A. 58-25,111, and amendments thereto, with the use of a separate meter to measure the water furnished to the tenant, so long as the landlord charges the tenant at the same rate charged by the city or water district to the landlord. Any lease between a landlord and tenant in effect at the time this section becomes effective shall not be affected by the provisions of this section. The furnishing of water by a landlord to a tenant in accordance with this section shall not be construed as a sale for resale which may be subject to the jurisdiction of the state corporation commission. (b) The landlord shall not charge the tenant any surcharge for the installation, maintenance or any other purpose related to the use of a separate water meter. (c) The landlord shall provide the tenant with a monthly water statement showing the computation of the amount the tenant owes, the tenant's meter reading for the current water statement period and the tenant's meter reading for the prior water statement period.
Under Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 58-2501 through 58-25,127, a landlord who separately meters water for tenants is not classified as a public utility, provided the landlord charges tenants at exactly the same rate the city or water district charges the landlord. The landlord may not add any surcharge for meter installation, maintenance, or related costs. Each month, the landlord must give tenants a written water statement that shows the current and prior meter readings along with how the billed amount was calculated.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 58-2501 through 58-25,127, operators who separately meter water for tenants generally pass through only the exact rate charged by the supplying city or water district — no markup, surcharge, or administrative fee of any kind is permitted. Compliant operators also provide each tenant with a monthly water statement that clearly displays both the current and prior meter readings and shows how the charge was computed. Leases that were already in effect when this provision became law are not affected by its requirements, but new or renewed leases are subject to its terms.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 58-2501 through 58-25,127 gives tenants the right to pay no more for separately metered water than the rate the landlord itself pays to the city or water district, with no added surcharges for meter installation or maintenance. Tenants are also entitled to receive a monthly written statement showing both the current and previous meter readings and the calculation behind the amount owed. Tenants who believe these rights are being violated may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization, raising the issue with the Kansas State Corporation Commission, or consulting a housing attorney to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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