Pay a fee just to pay rent? You may be entitled to compensation

Shamis & Gentile P.A., one of the nation's premier class action law firms specializing in arbitration cases, is investigating potential claims involving unfair or deceptive rental housing fee practices across the United States.

Many renters report being charged surprise or confusing fees on top of their advertised rent. These charges can add up month after month and may violate consumer protection laws.

If someone has a dispute involving hidden, misleading, or excessive rental housing fees, they may be eligible for compensation.

This investigation focuses on:

• Appfolio
• Entrata
• RentPayment
• RentManager
• Domuso
• Other platforms charging junk rental fees

Why junk rental fees are being investigated

In recent years, many housing providers have shifted to online portals and third-party platforms to handle applications, screening, rent payments, and move-out charges. These systems often layer in transaction fees, “convenience” fees, junk fees, and add-on services that are not clearly disclosed when a renter first sees the advertised rent.

On March 12, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission announced a proposed rulemaking focused specifically on unfair or deceptive rental housing fee practices.

The agency is gathering public comments about fees charged throughout the lease lifecycle, from application to move out, including situations where advertised rent does not include mandatory fees or where fees are imposed without a renter’s express informed consent.

Which fees are being investigated?

The investigation focuses on whether rental housing companies, property managers, HOAs, and related vendors have engaged in unfair or deceptive practices by charging or facilitating fees such as:

• Hidden or “drip” fees: Advertising a base rent or HOA due that does not include mandatory monthly charges, such as “portal fees,” “technology fees,” “amenity fees,” or “administrative fees” that are only revealed after a renter has invested time in applying or signing a lease  
• Payment processing and “convenience” fees: Charging residents extra simply to pay rent or dues online, including e-check or ACH fees that used to be free but later became paid, or steering residents into higher-fee payment methods  
• Move-in and move-out junk fees: Imposing questionable charges like “move-in preparation,” “lease initiation,” “inspection,” or inflated cleaning and damage fees that are not clearly supported by documentation  
• Fees without informed consent: Adding new or increased fees during the lease term or renewal without clear notice and without the renter’s express agreement  
• Misleading descriptions of fees: Using vague or confusing labels that make it hard to understand what a fee is for, whether it is optional, or whether it is required by a third party or simply a revenue source  

For example, some property management software platforms began charging per-transaction e-check fees starting in 2023, ending what had previously been free electronic payments for many residents.

In some cases, residents were told or led to believe that paying by e-check would avoid extra fees, only to later discover new monthly charges added to their rent payment.

Separately, lawsuits filed against certain rental payment and property management platforms have alleged that some companies coordinated or facilitated fee structures that increased costs to renters while limiting their ability to avoid these charges.

The FTC’s proposed rule, announced in March 2026, specifically identifies concerns such as:

• Advertising rent that does not include all mandatory fees or charges  
• Imposing fees without express informed consent  
• Misleading consumers about the nature and purpose of fees  

The investigation by the legal team is focused on whether renters and residents have been harmed by these types of practices and whether they may be entitled to compensation through arbitration.

Your Rights and Next Steps

Potential consumer claims

Depending on the facts, renters may have legal claims under:

• State consumer protection and unfair trade practices laws  
• Federal and state laws against unfair or deceptive acts or practices  
• Landlord-tenant statutes and security deposit laws  
• Contract and misrepresentation laws  

Potential claims may arise if:

• The advertised rent or dues did not match what was actually charged once mandatory fees were added  
• New or higher fees were imposed mid-lease without clear notice or consent  
• Residents were charged payment processing or “convenience” fees that were not properly disclosed or were misleadingly described  

Possible remedies

If claims are successful, affected consumers may be entitled to remedies that can include:

• Reimbursement of improper or unlawful fees paid during the lease term or at move out  
• Statutory damages or penalties where allowed by state or federal law  
• Correction of account histories, including reversal of improper charges and late fees tied to disputed amounts  
• Changes to fee practices going forward, helping protect other renters from similar conduct  

What affected renters and residents can do now

Anyone who believes they were charged unfair or deceptive rental housing fees can take the following steps:

• Gather documents  
  
  • Lease agreements and any renewals  
  • Screenshots or printouts of advertised rent or dues  
  • Monthly statements or portal screenshots showing fees  
  • Emails or letters about new or increased fees  
• Make a brief timeline  
  
  • When they first applied or moved in  
  • When they first noticed extra fees  
  • Any times fees changed or new fees appeared  
• Preserve communications  
  
  • Messages with property managers, landlords or payment platforms about disputed fees  
    
    • Notices or emails explaining or attempting to justify charges  

The legal team is actively reviewing potential cases involving:

• Hidden or surprise monthly fees added to rent or dues  
• New payment processing or “convenience” fees for online rent or HOA payments  
• Any situation where the total monthly cost is significantly higher than the advertised rent because of mandatory fees  

To find out if someone may qualify for this investigation and potential mass arbitration, they are invited to share their information and fee history for a free evaluation.

Please complete the form on this page so the team can review the situation and explain potential options.

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