Seattle renters know that the rent is too damn high.
But all too often, the rent is even higher than advertised. That’s because landlords have figured out a new way to squeeze money from renters: junk fees.
If you rent in Seattle, you likely know what we’re talking about: A survey of renters conducted by the office of Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson found that 58% of renters in the city pay additional fees that were not advertised as part of rent.
These fees include all sorts of charges. Does your landlord charge you extra because you have a pet? Do they require you to pay an “amenity fee” for upkeep of shared spaces, like the common room in your building? How about a fee for “valet garbage service” or cleaning the building’s gym? Some landlords even charge additional fees for the appliances in your unit. Others include paying for insurance that only protects the landlords, or a fee for receiving mail and packages.
Some of these fees seem small but they add up quickly. In fact, junk fees can increase your rent by 10%-30%. One renter’s response to the mayor’s survey noted, “There are so many hidden fees and lack of descriptions on what’s included that it’s impossible to search for in-budget options.” Nearly half of all renters in our city are “cost-burdened,” meaning they pay more than a third of their income on rent. Even worse, one in four renters pay more than half their monthly income to their landlord.
Mayor Wilson and Councilmember Dionne Foster have proposed a bill that would not only ban these fees, but require landlords to be honest about how much they will charge a tenant for rent. “Seattle is now a majority renter city,” Mayor Wilson said at a rally launching the junk fee bill. “And this legislation is about transparency and about affordability. It’s about creating a level playing field that rewards responsible landlords, and it’s about creating housing stability for renters — and stability for our neighborhoods and communities.”
The bill does not ban landlords from charging reasonable rent or offering additional services. Instead, it prohibits surprise fees, as well as charges for unwanted and unnecessary services or goods. This includes fees for in-unit appliances, receiving mail and packages, and renewing your lease.
Landlords can still charge security deposits, pet deposits, late fees and parking fees. The bill also allows landlords to charge fees if a tenant damages an apartment, pays rent late or loses their key.
Most importantly, it requires that landlords tell potential tenants up front about any and all fees charged in addition to the advertised rental price for an apartment, so there are no surprises. Not only will this help renters know whether they can afford a specific apartment, but it will make sure that honest landlords are not forced to compete with sneaky property owners who charge a long list of junk fees.
It’s only fair that the listed rental cost of an apartment is what you’ll actually pay — not that amount plus an array of arbitrary and confusing fees that don’t add anything to the place you call home.
Join us in testifying before the City Council in favor of this ban at 2 p.m. Aug. 11 at Seattle City Hall, or email your city councilmember at council@seattle.gov.
