Current Events > DeSantis allows landlords to charge ''junk fees''

(+) Yeah! (+)

From the Orlando Weekly:

https://tinyurl.com/3fmdtutt

The bill, HB 133, allows landlords in Florida to charge tenants a nonrefundable, limitless, recurring fee in lieu of a security deposit, or what's been dubbed junk fees.

Supporters of the bill including corporate lobbying interests that stand to turn a profit from it say it offers tenants an alternative to paying lump-sum security deposits that can often cost upward of one or maybe two months rent.

In Floridas hot rental market, that could be thousands of dollars upfront.

Critics of the legislation have another word to describe the so-called security deposit alternative that the legislation permits, however: predatory.
Jay Mobley, an attorney for the Orange County Legal Aid Society who encounters many low-income people in his work, told Orlando Weekly the bill opens the door for a lot of abuse on the part of bad landlords.

There are no limits to the fees that landlords can charge as part of this alternative security deposit arrangement, so they could theoretically charge $25 per month, or they could charge $200 per month. Theres no cap on the fees, said Mobley.

The bill also garnered opposition from social advocacy groups, as well as labor unions like the Service Employees International Union, which represents many workers in low-wage jobs.

As written, this legislation leaves working-class renters that are experiencing an affordable housing crisis vulnerable to predatory business practices, a coalition of advocacy groups wrote in a letter urging DeSantis to veto the bill last month.

The state is facing a housing crisis, and our communities are being exploited for profit.

It also allows landlords to advertise a lower rental, while jacking up the actual cost to rent.

Who in their right minds would want to live in that crap-tier state? I wish there was a fund to help evacuate non-Republicans from Florida.

i almost moved to FL in 2010

dodged a bullet there.

mystic_belmont posted...

It also allows landlords to advertise a lower rental, while jacking up the actual cost to rent.

That is entirely the real effect.

He will lose no supporters over this

Euripides posted...

He will lose no supporters over this

COVID says hello to the oldies living in his state.

https://twitter.com/FascismResearch/status/1665516668771074048

Literally a new shitty bill per week to make Florida the #1 ranked most miserable state to live in.

It feels like DeSantis is addicted to "legislative wins", and will sign literally anything that will give him a "win"

He literally is evil. Like nothing he does actually makes anyone's life better.

JFC. Making Florida more and more of a hell hole with every new law

Crimsoness posted...

He literally is evil. Like nothing he does actually makes anyone's life better.

It makes landlords and faceless corporations' lives better

Crimsoness posted...

He literally is evil. Like nothing he does actually makes anyone's life better.

Wrong, it makes other evil people's lives better.

Humble_Novice posted...

Who in their right minds would want to live in that crap-tier state? I wish there was a fund to help evacuate non-Republicans from Florida.

There is one and its called the Help MaxEffingBemis get out of Florida Fund

Euripides posted...

It feels like DeSantis is addicted to "legislative wins", and will sign literally anything that will give him a "win"

no he will sign anything anyone paid him to

Trump actually has a point with his attack on meatball Ron. Things have gotten a lot more expensive here in Florida and its his fault, not Bidens

This place just sounds like crap to live in more and more with each passing day.

If nobody wants to live in Florida, why is the market still hot out there

Kinda sounds like PMI but you'll never get rid of it. It really should have be limited to a limit of one or two months rent that can be refundable like a security deposit

If it's an additional option to a security deposit (so you have two options), its really changes nothing. It's no different than those cash car loans. It'll help .3% of people and fuck the rest though. Just another way example of it being more expensive to be poor than not.

I feel bad for these people that continue to hurt themselves by voting for evil republicans

If you're wondering why his talking points are just "WOKE WOKE WOKE", it's to distract you from all of this other shit he's doing

Euripides posted...

it's to distract you from all of this other shit he's doing

we're all distracted.

Euripides posted...

If you're wondering why his talking points are just "WOKE WOKE WOKE", it's to distract you from all of this other shit he's doing

"Noun. Verb. Woke." ~ Ron DeSantis

Why are the security deposits so high in Florida?

Security deposits are like $3500 in a lot of areas Im glad they are looking at alternatives

there needs to be a limit on it though not just endless fees

Humble_Novice posted...

Who in their right minds would want to live in that crap-tier state? I wish there was a fund to help evacuate non-Republicans from Florida.

You can always petition your local/state politicians to set up said fund. Or if that doesn't work, you can always set one up with like-minded folks yourselves and contribute the funds out-of-pocket (rather than via taxes).

VampireCoyote posted...

Security deposits are like $3500 in a lot of areas Im glad they are looking at alternatives

there needs to be a limit on it though not just endless fees

There is nothing stopping them from charging almost no security deposit, advertising it, but charging $3500 in junk fees.

Security deposits have laws backing them up, protecting you. Junk fees do not.

Unknown5uspect posted...

Why are the security deposits so high in Florida?

I can't speak to Florida specifically, but where I live in upstate NY, security deposits are usually 1-3 months rent. Considering the average rent in my local area is about $1,000, the security deposit is approximately $1,000-$3,000.

WTGHookshot posted...

I can't speak to Florida specifically, but where I live in upstate NY, security deposits are usually 1-3 months rent. Considering the average rent in my local area is about $1,000, the security deposit is approximately $1,000-$3,000.

I don't think I've paid more than like $300-$400 down here in Texas. That's wild.

WTGHookshot posted...

I can't speak to Florida specifically, but where I live in upstate NY, security deposits are usually 1-3 months rent. Considering the average rent in my local area is about $1,000, the security deposit is approximately $1,000-$3,000.

Same for those of us in the Texas cities.

VampireCoyote posted...

Security deposits are like $3500 in a lot of areas Im glad they are looking at alternatives

there needs to be a limit on it though not just endless fees

My thoughts exactly. Looking into alternatives for security deposits is great, but this might be the absolute worst way to go about it. I am looking forward to seeing Texas top this stupidity in some way. Texas and Florida have to go back-and-forth with out dumbing each other.

TaylorHeinicke posted...

If nobody wants to live in Florida, why is the market still hot out there

I mean whether someone wants to or not, they often have to live where ever they are.. did you think because a lot of people don't like living somewhere the market suddenly collapses?

WTGHookshot posted...

You can always petition your local/state politicians to set up said fund. Or if that doesn't work, you can always set one up with like-minded folks yourselves and contribute the funds out-of-pocket (rather than via taxes).

Do local/state politicians create funds to get constituents out said state?

No one in their right mind would vote for this guy. Why would anyone do this to themselves?

The_Wheelman1 posted...

No one in their right mind would vote for this guy. Why would anyone do this to themselves?

Gotta own them libs

Ruvan22 posted...

Do local/state politicians create funds to get constituents out said state?

Some places have, I believe. For instance, I remember California setting up some laws/programs to help those from states where abortion was banned to get an abortion in California instead and then pay any legal fees to fight the home state from coming after them.

I imagine some places could set up similar. If not, then those with like minds could set up GoFundMe pages for those they are trying to help move and contribute themselves.

On the surface, I like the concept. Up front costs to move in can get ridiculous at least here locally. Some places want first month's rent, last month's rent, and a security deposit worth the total of a month's rent. Further, I've spotlessly cleaned every place I've ever moved out of and at most gotten back half my security deposit, if anything. On top of that now landlords are requiring your income to be 3x the rent price monthly (and I've seen some of them wanting 4.5x rent for more expensive/larger properties) so we've got situations where a single bedroom apartment renting for $1000/month (note I live in a low cost of living chunk of The South, average wages here are like $12/hr) requiring $3000 up front AND your income must be $3000+ a month (or $19/hour).

So yeah, on the surface I'm 100% ok with something that bumps rent up a bit monthly to reduce the up-front costs of moving. Not having to save up literally 25% of a year's income to move would be helpful... But that shit has to have a reasonable cap on it. Using the example above, $2000 of that move in cost was deposits (and $1000 was just the rent for month 1) and dividing that by 12 months is $166. If it was further set up so that after the first year the fee had to be reduced significantly (capped at like $50 or something) I'd be absolutely for it. A lower barrier to entry to move is very pro consumer and would hopefully push the market into a more renter-friendly direction as landlords would actually need to compete with each other for tenants.

Euripides posted...

Gotta own them libs

Just the other day, my cousin was wearing an old Washington football jersey and I made a comment to her on why she was wearing that.

Then my grandfather butted in, saying he'd want to buy more "redskin" items just to be a jerk about the situation.

And he wonders why I don't respect him...

fire_bolt posted...

now landlords are requiring your income to be 3x the rent price monthly (and I've seen some of them wanting 4.5x rent for more expensive/larger properties) so we've got situations where a single bedroom apartment renting for $1000/month (note I live in a low cost of living chunk of The South, average wages here are like $12/hr) requiring $3000 up front AND your income must be $3000+ a month (or $19/hour).

should be 2x your monthly income compared to rent.

kingdrake2 posted...

should be 2x your monthly income compared to rent.

But it ain't

kingdrake2 posted...

should be 2x your monthly income compared to rent.

Sure would be cool if it was. I could prove that I could afford to live alone if so. Unfortunately, the rise of Property Management Companies (basically people who sub-contract managing houses from the actual owners) has brought increasingly stringent requirements for who they are willing to rent to, and with the housing market completely fucked right now its harder than ever to try to buy a house rather than rent. Frankly its a nightmare

MaxEffingBemis posted...

Trump actually has a point with his attack on meatball Ron. Things have gotten a lot more expensive here in Florida and its his fault, not Bidens

It's the only truthful statements Trump will likely make during this entire election.

WTGHookshot posted...

Some places have, I believe. For instance, I remember California setting up some laws/programs to help those from states where abortion was banned to get an abortion in California instead and then pay any legal fees to fight the home state from coming after them.

I imagine some places could set up similar. If not, then those with like minds could set up GoFundMe pages for those they are trying to help move and contribute themselves.

A) The poster was asking for help getting out of FL, where he resides now - I was asking if there were state programs that pay to move residents in their own to move out, permanently.

B) Do you have a link to the CA program? All I can find is this, which says you'll receive care, not that CA would pay for an out of state person to get travel there..

https://abortion.ca.gov/getting-an-abortion/how-to-pay-for-an-abortion/

Ruvan22 posted...

A) The poster was asking for help getting out of FL, where he resides now - I was asking if there were state programs that pay to move residents in their own to move out, permanently.

B) Do you have a link to the CA program? All I can find is this, which says you'll receive care, not that CA would pay for an out of state person to get travel there..

https://abortion.ca.gov/getting-an-abortion/how-to-pay-for-an-abortion/

I know there were some companies that were offering to send employees out of state for abortions but I don't think a state would sponsor it for people coming from other states. that would cause a lot of complaints

Ruvan22 posted...

A) The poster was asking for help getting out of FL, where he resides now - I was asking if there were state programs that pay to move residents in their own to move out, permanently.

Which poster are you referring to? The poster I responded to was Humble_Novice who does not reside in FL.

No, states aren't paying for people to move out of the states. I was stating to Humble_Novice (who does not reside in FL) to petition their state (whatever non-FL state that is) to set up some sort of "refugee" type fund.

B) Do you have a link to the CA program? All I can find is this, which says you'll receive care, not that CA would pay for an out of state person to get travel there..

https://abortion.ca.gov/getting-an-abortion/how-to-pay-for-an-abortion/

I do not. It was something posted on 261 many months ago, which we can no longer access for me to find the link. It might have just been a proposed bill, not one that was approved yet. Or it might have been more of a local county bill in CA, rather than a state-wide bill. I do remember a topic made about it, though, but can't access it due to the new Fandom blocking of that board, unfortunately. Perhaps one of the other 261 refugees saved the link somewhere or remembers what I am referring to.

1000$ one time upfront or 200$ a month possibly for many years.

hmmmm, which is better?

Humble_Novice posted...

Who in their right minds would want to live in that crap-tier state? I wish there was a fund to help evacuate non-Republicans from Florida.

Sadly we'll be bringing over Republicans too when the state goes underwater.

But at least the state will be underwater.

It also allows landlords to advertise a lower rental, while jacking up the actual cost to rent.

Because who doesn't love when they get plane tickets, concert tickets, Uber eats etc and seeing their advertised price literally double!

pikachupwnage posted...

1000$ one time upfront or 200$ a month possibly for many years.

hmmmm, which is better?

While I don't disagree, what do you think "lease-to-own" programs for cars or "rent-to-own" programs for furniture, electronics, etc. (or cell phone contracts where you don't buy the phone outright but pay monthly payments with interest in order to get the phone at a cheaper cost upfront) are about? Same model. Big difference in those programs lead to you owning the items in the end, whereas this you do not, but in terms of the people this attracts, it is most likely the same type of people, where they have no savings but can afford to go piece by piece a little easier. Not a fan of the program myself, but I can see how some people would want it (though I would recommend those people to not do this, as it's pretty predatory).

WTGHookshot posted...

Which poster are you referring to? The poster I responded to was Humble_Novice who does not reside in FL.

Ahh my apologies, I had him mixed up with MaxEffingBemis (as the latter responded to him)

No, states aren't paying for people to move out of the states. I was stating to Humble_Novice (who does not reside in FL) to petition their state (whatever non-FL state that is) to set up some sort of "refugee" type fund.

I do not. It was something posted on 261 many months ago, which we can no longer access for me to find the link. It might have just been a proposed bill, not one that was approved yet. Or it might have been more of a local county bill in CA, rather than a state-wide bill. I do remember a topic made about it, though, but can't access it due to the new Fandom blocking of that board, unfortunately. Perhaps one of the other 261 refugees saved the link somewhere or remembers what I am referring to.

But if even that bill didn't get passed, what makes you recommend Humble Novice to petition his state government for an even bigger bill? As in it seems unlikely to get passed....