Suzanne Potter:
Now, renters are getting hit with extra charges, and consumer advocates want the federal government to crack down on the so-called "junk rental fees."
A new report from the National Consumer Law Center found many landlords charge excessive fees, not just for utilities but to process a rental application, move the trash to the bins, allow roommates or pets, accept certain forms of payment, or notify you of late payment.
April Kuehnhoff, senior attorney at the center, said with sky-high rents, all extra fees must be disclosed beforehand.
"There are fees that people can't opt out of, so it's tough to comparison shop or to know how much it costs to rent this apartment," Kuehnhoff explained.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission are looking into junk fees. In addition, advocates want the government to crack down on abuses by large landlords and debt collectors and work with private companies such as Zillow and Apartments.com to ensure prices are disclosed upfront.
Kuehnhoff pointed out that pest-control fees may even be illegal.
"A landlord must provide a habitable space," Kuehnhoff stressed. "So you should be delivering an apartment free of rodents and cockroaches, and it shouldn't be up to the tenant to pay an additional sum."
The California Legislature is considering Senate Bill 611, which would force landlords to disclose the actual rent and any required fees upfront. It is part of a six-bill legislative package to combat junk fees in housing, hotels, car rentals, ticketing, electric-vehicle purchases, and small-business financing.
