Junk fees are a new displacement pressure in the Eden Area.
My Eden Voice is empowering Eden Area tenants to advocate for an ordinance that would effectively ban junk fees in the Unincorporated Area of Alameda County.
Over the course of 6 months, Eden Renters United spoke with about 80 residents across 5 buildings in Ashland and Castro Valley and learned that 84% of these residents are currently paying additional monthly fees for garbage, water, and/or sewer. These “junk fees” are part of a new displacement pressure that is making it difficult for our families to afford and maintain housing.
Why is this happening?
Historically, these fees have been included in the rent, and many residents’ original contracts say that garbage, water and sewer are services that will be covered by the landlord. However, since the passage of the Tenant Protections Act in 2019, which created rent control for most renters in California, landlords have been separating out garbage, water, sewer and charging additional fees. In some cases, tenants are being asked to sign new contracts; in other cases the charges are being introduced via a 30 day written notice.
This is a new business practice that is beneficial to property owners because:
- it allows them to list their units at lower prices while effectively charging higher rents, and
- and they save money and increase their own profits by passing on the costs to tenants
The fees can be very high, and are steadily increasing across the board. Residents we spoke with were being charged anywhere between $85 and $700 per month, with most people paying somewhere between $100 and $200 dollars per month. The amount of these fees varies widely within and across buildings.
What can tenants do about it?
These fees are currently unregulated. Landlords can legally introduce the fees, can charge what they want, do not have to provide transparency on the accuracy of the charges, and do not have to charge all residents equally or at all. And there’s not much tenants can do about it.
According to our legal partners, there is nothing that residents can do on their own to challenge these fees. Furthermore, if residents refuse to pay, they could be subjected to eviction for nonpayment. Without a solution, these fees are effectively raising rents across the unincorporated area, putting more pressure on our families and creating more instability.
We need a policy solution.
The issue has been recognized by tenants across the state, leading the Housing Now Coalition to campaign for a state-wide ban on “junk fees”. Though this campaign was not successful in passing a bill (AB 1248), tenants in Salinas and Mountainview were able to pass local bans.
Eden Renters United is bringing tenants together around this issue with the goal of passing a local ban for the Eden-area.
The solutions we need.
A ban on junk fees
Some jurisdictions like Mountain View are passing new ordinances that ban the junk fees directly.
Defining rent
In other jurisdictions like Salinas, tenants passed a rent stabilization ordinance that included a strong definition of rent (ex. The Landlord may not charge for utilities unless the utility is separately or individually metered.)
With questions, contact Kristen Hackett, community organizer with My Eden Voice.
510-244-3991 | kristen@myedenvoice.org
