With the rising costs of housing, a lot of renters are asking this question: Is it possible to opt out of various amenities that your rental property offers so that you can avoid paying the fees? The answer is a little bit complicated, but the short version is that sometimes you can, and sometimes you can’t. It all depends on the specifics of your situation.
Ready to learn more? Below, we’ll explore what amenity fees are—and when you may be able to opt out of them in order to lower your monthly rent bill.
Defining Amenities
In most cases, the actual rent is not the only housing cost that you’ll be paying for each month. There may be utilities, of course, and beyond that, your rent bill may also include fees for things like trash valet service, electric vehicle charging stations, parking, storage, or access to on-site features like gyms, swimming pools, and clubhouses.
Which of these things are considered amenities? The simple definition goes like this: Amenities include anything that isn’t required to occupy the property.
In other words, your electric bill isn’t considered an amenity because you need it to maintain safe and healthy residency. Pool and hot tub access, however? These are nice perks to have, but they’re not truly necessary to occupy the unit.
Trash valet service can be a gray area depending on how the service works. If it’s the only way to dispose of garbage, it may not be considered an amenity so much as a necessary service. However, if it’s merely a convenience so that you don’t have to lug your own garbage to the curb, dumpster or waste disposal area, it could be considered an amenity.
Do I Have to Pay Amenity Fees?
It’s always a good thing when you can find ways to lower monthly housing costs—and many rentals, particularly apartment complexes, come with quite a few added fees that cover various community services.
Whether you have to pay these fees or not generally comes down to the stipulations made in your lease agreement. We’ll explain below.
Charges Outlined in Your Lease Agreement
If you want to cut costs, your lease agreement is the first place to turn. Chances are, any amenity fees listed here — like fees for parking spaces, gym usage, trash valet service, and so on — are things that you agreed to pay when you signed the lease, which means you won’t be able to opt out of them.
However, you should read the lease agreement thoroughly to make sure. You may discover clauses that list certain fees as optional, which would give you the ability to opt out of them.
For example, if you’ve sold your car and no longer need to pay for parking, see what the lease agreement has to say about the parking fee. There’s a reasonable chance that the agreement has provisions allowing you to opt out of this—but if not, then you’ll need to keep paying.
New Charges Not Included in the Lease
So what happens when your landlord or property manager wants to add new fees partway through your lease? The general rule of thumb is that if you didn’t agree to pay the fees, then you aren’t liable for them.
In other words, if the fees aren’t listed on the initial lease agreement that you signed, and if you didn’t sign an addendum agreeing to pay the new fees after the fact, then you should be able to opt out.
However, before assuming that you don’t have to pay, make sure to check your lease agreement for any exceptions. For example, pet rent is a common one. If you live in a pet-friendly rental, your lease agreement may contain a clause that stipulates that if you become a pet owner at some point during the lease term, you’ll need to start paying an extra monthly fee to keep the pet on premises, otherwise your lease could be terminated.
What Else Can I Do to Lower Fees for Unnecessary Apartment Services?
As you can see, in most cases, you can only opt out of amenity fees if they were added to your monthly rent bill after you signed the initial lease. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re out of options. The following strategies may help you keep your total costs down.
1. Negotiate Before You Sign the Lease
Pay close attention to your lease agreement and any fees listed on it. According to [NAME], many landlords and property managers are open to working with prospective tenants, especially in competitive rental markets. If you’re not interested in using things like valet trash services, apartment complex gyms, or paid parking spaces, ask about getting a waiver so that you don’t have to pay for these things.
2. Communicate With Your Landlord
Even if you’ve already signed your lease agreement, your landlord or property manager may be flexible if you can prove that you don’t use certain services you’re paying for. Bear in mind that if you’ve already agreed to these costs, the landlord isn’t required to waive them—but sometimes they’re willing to work with tenants, especially long-term tenants or those who have proven themselves otherwise great renters.
3. Contact a Local Tenants’ Association or Tenant Rights Attorney
If you think you’re being subjected to unfair fees, check to see if your community has a local tenants’ association. These associations can often offer information on state and local laws, and your rights as a renter. In some instances, they may also be able to offer limited assistance to get fees lowered or eliminated, and if necessary, they should certainly be able to connect you with an attorney who specializes in tenant rights.
If your area doesn’t have a tenants’ association, then you’ll have to find a tenant rights attorney on your own. Check with state and local bar associations to find one practicing in your area.
In Conclusion
Housing costs are high enough. Added fees on top of the rent can be frustrating—but they may not always be avoidable. Read your lease agreement carefully to learn what is required, and most importantly, remember that if you didn’t officially sign a contract or addendum agreeing to the cost, you likely aren’t liable to pay it.
