Top takeaways from President Biden ’ s announcement
APARTMENT ADVOCATE
NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION
White House Cracks Down on ‘ Junk Fees ’ in Rental Housing
Top takeaways from President Biden ’ s announcement
NAA Holds July Advocacy & Legal Update
On July 19 , 2023 , President Joe Biden announced three actions to “ take on junk fees in rental housing to lower costs for renters .”
1 . " New commitments from major rental housing platforms — Zillow , Apartments . com , and AffordableHousing . com — who have answered the President ’ s call for transparency and will provide consumers with " tools to compare rentals based on the total up-front and costs throughout the tenancy that apartment seekers wish to spend ;
2 . " New research from the Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ), " which suggests solutions that address fees ; and
3 . Promotion of state actions across the country — from Connecticut to California purporting to address “ hidden & unfair fees ."
In response , National Apartment Association ( NAA ) President and CEO Bob Pinnegar released a press statement on the announcement . “ Rental housing is a narrow-margin industry that exists to serve our renters and communities ,” Pinnegar said . “ Amenities and services come at a cost , which is communicated with residents in the lease and the leasing process . Though the industry supports increased transparency and has always called for dialogue between housing providers and their residents , policymakers must recognize operational realities and the role that fees play in housing viability .”
NAA ’ s statement was picked up in several prominent publications , including National Public Radio ( NPR ) and the Associated Press ( AP ). The media statement was complemented by a short video explaining the role of fees in the long-term viability of rental housing .
The National Apartment Association ' s ( NAA ) Monthly Advocacy and Legal Update digests the latest legal and advocacy news from across the country .
On July 19 , 2023 , NAA hosted the latest installment of the monthly call . Some highlights include :
• Federal Legislative Update : Jodie Applewhite , Federal Legislative Affairs Director , discussed NAA ’ s 2023 legislative efforts and developments , highlighting numerous pieces of legislation in Congress . She provided an overview of the recent FY 2024 Appropriations bills , what to expect in the coming days and proposal highlights .
• Regulatory Roundup : Nicole Upano , AVP of Housing Policy & Regulatory Affairs discussed NAA ’ s coordinated efforts across multiple federal agencies , and ways to get involved . Ben Harrold , Manager of Public Policy , discussed rent control , resident screening and renters bill of rights legislation across the country .
• Legal Update : Ayiesha Beverly , General Counsel , digested the latest in eviction and insurance litigation , the passage and movement of notable legislation , as well as updates to Click & Lease , and broke down their significance and implications . www . aamdhq . org JULY 2023 TRENDS | 51