![]() ![]() is launching a calculator for would-be tenants to determine the all-in price of a desired unit.For a flat fee, apartment hunters can use a single form to apply to multiple properties at the same time. Zillow is introducing a Cost of Renting Summary, which will be preloaded “with information about monthly costs, such as rent, parking fees and pet fees, as well as one-time expenses like security deposits, application fees and administration fees,” the company said in a news release.The three rental housing platforms mentioned in the White House announcement say they’re making tweaks to their listings to ensure that prospective renters know the true cost before they pick a place to live. Apartment Rental Sites Promise Fee Transparency ![]() One advocate said some landlords in South Carolina were advertising rents for $1,100 a month, but once various fees were tacked on, the actual price could rise to $1,800. The center said some properties were even charging a “January fee” at the beginning of each year, “for seemingly no reason.” The NCLC says a survey of tenant advocates also uncovered a long list of other required fees for such things as mail-sorting, maintenance, trash collection and amenities. The report cited a long list of typical rental add-ons, including application fees, convenience fees, insurance fees and charges in lieu of a security deposit. In some cases, the report said, those fees are a way for landlords to get around legal limits on rent increases. The fees can result in rental debt that can ding tenants’ credit reports and jeopardize their access to housing in the future. Earlier this year a report by the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) found renters face “a dizzying array of unavoidable fees” that jack up the cost of housing. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |