Investigation: apartment renters face rising tide of fees

Renters at apartment buildings operated by industry giant Greystar complain they’re deluged by ‘unfair’ and ‘inflated’ fees. The company denies these claims. We found 125 different fees in US listings, from pet fees for DNA testing of dog poop to "variable refrigerant flow."

Did you know WA is one of the top ten states for Greystar, a property manager at the heart of this recent investigation on Junk Fees?

‘Extremely overwhelmed’: apartment renters face rising tide of fees #CostOfLiving #housing #rent www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

Unbelievable! "These add-ons include “boiler management fees”, “variable refrigerant flow fees”, “solar rebill” fees, even “lifestyle fees” Tenants and lawsuits in multiple states call many of these fees inflated, illegal, predatory or overwhelming." www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

The 1 million U.S. households who live in Greystar apartments don’t just pay rent. They pay “boiler management fees,” “variable refrigerant flow fees,” “solar rebill” fees, “lifestyle fees,” and even fees for genetically testing dog poop. @tmmcmillan.bsky.social investigates. @theguardian.com

There are few big apartment rental companies in Maine-most rental housing is single but not corporate owner. They don't have this set up. Thank god. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

Nickeled and dimed by corporate landlords: “Greystar charged tenants three different billing fees just to be able to pay rent and other fees…and shifted the costs of basic services that are required by law on to tenants.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

This San Diego renter paid $150 in application fees only to discover that one of the apartments they applied for wasn’t actually available...and then came hidden fees. For too many families, the advertised rent isn’t the real cost of housing.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i... Tracie McMillan’s excellent article about fees charged by rental industry giant Greystar. Some leases contain as many as 125 “add-on“ fees.

If candidates want to do something about affordability in housing, getting rid of these junk fees — requiring costs to be top line in the posted lease and fixed for term — would be a great place to start www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

“Tenants cannot pay their bills w/ personal checks. Instead, tenants are required to use an online portal, where they are charged processing or administrative fees, or cashier’s check. Greystar references a ‘payment services’ fee…” Wow. I was joking, but… Greystar actually has a “Fee fee”!

This is how they act when they're unregulated. Then, when we finally manage to get laws passed, they whine and whine. Why not just do the right thing in the first place, simply make a fair profit?? www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

The added costs that #Greystar tenants pay are part of a rising tide of fees in the US . Americans must pay a deluge of processing fees, delivery fees, service fees, overdraft fees, activation fees, termination fees, “convenience” fees and more www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

“Tenants at apartment complexes operated by Greystar, the largest owner and manager of apartments in the US, don’t just pay rent. They pay a mass of fees that many renters have never heard of before.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jun/24/apartment-renters-rising-fees […]

And they are truly vultures, trying to feast on their tenants even after death. "Colorado enacted a new law in 2025, “Letty’s Act”, after Greystar billed grieving family members thousands of dollars in penalty fees when their matriarch, 75-year-old Leticia Farrer, died. "