Congressmen Gomez and Frost Send Letter to FTC as Commission Considers Rule That Could Enact their “End Junk Fees for Renters” ActGomez, Frost Bill Would Crack Down on Landlord Junk Fees and End Unfair Rental Housing Practices
Washington,
January 5, 2024
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), founder and chair of the Congressional Renters Caucus, and Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL), alongside eight Members of Congress, sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), lauding the Commission for their proposal to crack down on junk fees for goods and services and calling for the inclusion of rental housing junk fees in their crackdown efforts. The letter follows Congressmen Gomez and Frost's work to fight for renters’ rights and housing affordability through their End Junk Fees for Renters Act, legislation introduced in 2023 to fight junk fees in the rental housing market by banning application and screening fees, requiring late fees to apply as credit for next month’s rent and to put an end to surprise fees. Both Congressmen are also founding members of the Congressional Renters Caucus, with Rep. Gomez serving as chair of the caucus. “As the third of Americans who are renters struggle to afford rising rent prices, with over twenty million renters reporting that the increasing cost of rent threatens their financial security, added and dishonest fees make it even harder for them to secure affordable housing,” wrote the Members. “...The Commission’s proposal will end this unfair practice by requiring landlords to disclose the amount, purpose, and refundability of all rental fees up front, cutting down on bogus fees to save renters thousands of dollars each year.” The FTC is currently finalizing a rule that would prohibit unfair or deceptive practices related to fees for goods or services, specifically cracking down on misrepresenting the total costs of goods and services by omitting mandatory fees from advertised prices and misrepresenting the nature and purpose of fees – Congressmen Frost and Gomez are calling on the agency to effectively implement the intent of the End Junk Fees for Renters Act to deliver relief and transparency to millions of renters, potentially helping working folks save thousands a year. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Dan Goldman (D-NY), and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) also signed onto the letter. Text of the letter can be found here. ###
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