Biden Administration Announces Actions on Rental 'Junk Fees'
The Biden administration announced an additional front — rental housing — for its standing opposition to so-called junk fees for consumers.
"From repeated rental application fees to surprise 'convenience fees,' millions of families incur burdensome costs in the rental application process and throughout the duration of their lease," the White House posted. "These fees are often more than the actual cost of providing the service, or are added onto rents to cover services that renters assume are included—or that they don't even want."
The broader focus on junk fees is far from a new surprise. It goes back to at least August 2023 when, during a state dinner, Biden said, "These so called 'junk fees' are not just an irritant – they can weaken market competition, raise costs for consumers and businesses, and hit the most vulnerable Americans the hardest."