Florida lawmaker proposed law that could significantly slash rent prices in Florida, nationwide
Florida – A new effort to bring relief to renters in Florida and across the nation is gaining traction as lawmakers introduce legislation aimed at cutting hidden housing costs and curbing corporate profiteering. Florida Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley have introduced the End Junk Fees for Renters Act, a law that aims to make renting more transparent and cheap.
The bill, which is co-led in the House by Representative Jimmy Gomez, Chair of the Congressional Renters Caucus, goes after what politicians call “junk fees.” These are the often unexpected and high expenditures that tenants have to pay when they apply for or keep accommodation. These include everything from high application costs to hidden expenses in leasing agreements.
“This is about standing firmly on the side of renters and working people while holding greedy landlords and leasing companies accountable for nickel and diming people every chance they get. It’s time to end the ridiculous fees and fight for housing justice and transparency,” Rep. Frost said.
The bill would make many big changes if it passes. It would make it illegal to charge application and screening fees, limit late rent costs to 3% of the monthly rent, and have landlords give tenants a 15-day grace period before penalizing them. The proposal would also require landlords to fully disclose any lawsuits they have had with tenants in the past, any continuing maintenance problems, and any rent increases that have happened in the last ten years.
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Supporters think that this kind of openness might help tenants make more informed decisions and, in the end, cut rates across the board. The bill’s goal is to put pressure on landlords to compete more fairly by giving consumers a clearer idea of what they’re signing up for.
Senator Merkley emphasized the bill’s broader economic impact, calling out “billionaire corporations” and large rental companies for hiding fees to inflate profits.
“Billionaire corporations and huge rental companies are hiding fees and added costs to drive up rents and line their own pockets,” said Senator Merkley. “The End Junk Fees for Renters Act fights back against corporate landlords trying to squeeze every dime out of renters that they possibly can. Let’s crack down on these junk fees to ensure all Americans have a fair shot at a safe, affordable roof overhead and the power to fight back against absurd costs.”
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The proposal comes at a time when rents are still very high, albeit they are starting to go down a little. Redfin says that the national median asking rent fell slightly to $1,642 in June, which is 0.5% lower than it was a year ago. However, it is still just below the record highs reached in 2022. Analysts argue that renters are in a better position right now since there is a temporary surplus of new apartments, but that advantage may not last long.
“Renters have the upper hand—at least for now—because there are a near-record number of apartments coming on the market that landlords are scrambling to lease,” said Redfin economist Sheharyar Bokhari, noting that developers are expected to slow construction soon while demand stays strong.
This plan could help tenants in Florida, where housing rates have gone up a lot in the past several years and many families are feeling the burden. Rep. Gomez said the law will “lift an unnecessary burden and help working families build real stability” because up to 80% of households in some areas rent.
The bill still has some problems to work out in Congress, but its introduction shows that more and more people want to take authority away from landlords and give it to tenants. Housing costs are still an enormous concern for millions of people, and supporters hope this plan is the first step toward making the rental market fair again.
