07/30/2026
📣 Read on for the TU's recent letter to the Seattle City Council Housing Committee, in support of proposed legislation by Mayor Katie B. Wilson and Council Member Dionne Foster to BAN JUNK FEES for Seattle renters...
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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MXADgVZqeZHXoU7PR7P1qKaTyxUvxkcj/view?usp=sharing
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Dear Chair and Members of the Housing Committee,
On behalf of the Tenants Union of Washington State, we write in strong support of banning ‘junk fees’ sponsored by Councilmember Foster that would require disclosure of all mandatory housing costs and ensure meaningful enforcement to stop exploitative pricing. We respectfully urge the Seattle City Council to adopt these strong protections to ban junk fees as it is written and oppose any amendments that would weaken renter protections. Doing so will improve fairness, strengthen consumer confidence, and help make housing more affordable for all Seattle renters.
For nearly 50 years, the Tenants Union has served thousands of Seattle residents. Every year, tenants contact us seeking information about their rights, assistance navigating housing issues, and support in remaining stably housed. Of all the concerns we hear from Seattle tenants, one of the most common is the growing number of excessive fees imposed by landlords.
What was once a straightforward rental transaction has become increasingly burdened by a long list of charges that extend far beyond monthly rent. Tenants report paying application fees, administrative fees, technology fees, utility billing fees, package fees, mandatory amenity fees, convenience fees, and other charges that often bear little relationship to the actual cost of providing a service. These fees frequently are not transparent and make it difficult for renters to accurately determine the true cost of housing causing housing instability and even loss of housing entirely.
In our experience, many of these fees are not designed to recover reasonable costs. They are strictly designed to increase profits. They function as hidden rent increases, allowing landlords to advertise one monthly rental price while collecting significantly more through mandatory charges. This lack of transparency undermines the ability of consumers to compare housing options and places an unfair financial burden on tenants who often have little bargaining power in an increasingly competitive housing market.
For households already struggling with Seattle's high cost of living, these additional charges can mean the difference between remaining housed and falling behind on essential expenses. Families should not have to choose between paying an unexpected "administrative fee" and buying groceries, paying for childcare, or filling a prescription.
We commend the Housing Committee for addressing this issue. Requiring transparency and prohibiting unfair junk fees is a meaningful consumer protection that promotes honesty in the rental market. Renters deserve to know the true cost of housing before signing a lease, and landlords should compete based on the actual price of rent, not on hidden mandatory fees that inflate profits after the fact.
Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to protecting tenants.
-- Tenants Union of Washington State
Mayor Katie B. Wilson
Be:Seattle
Transit Riders Union
Your City
Seattle City Council
Dionne For Seattle
Alexis Mercedes Rinck
Eddie Lin for Seattle
Joy Hollingsworth
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