LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Hidden fees are so out-of-hand that it now costs money just to pay the rent. And it’s a good bet that tenants aren’t told that until they have signed the lease.
Assembly Bill 121 (AB121) in the Nevada Legislature seeks an end to “resort fee”-style rental practices by requiring landlords to be upfront with renters about how much the monthly rent is going to be — all mandatory fees included.
This session, the Legislature is also looking at bills about age limits on gun ownership, apps that deliver restaurant food, foam containers in restaurants and tax breaks for survivors of military members killed in the line of duty. Here’s a deeper look at AB121, along with quick summaries of the other bills:
RENT FAIRNESS: AB121 puts a target on hidden fees, whether it’s a requirement to use an app with a surcharge when you pay the rent, required smart home technology, utility management fees, air filter delivery, internet packages or other costs.
“AB121 ensures certainty for tenants when budgeting for monthly bills by ensuring the rental amount quoted is the actual amount of the monthly rent because it includes all mandatory costs. It also ensures fair competition between landlords because it stops hidden mandatory fees,” according to Democratic Assemblymember Venicia Considine, the bill’s sponsor.
The bill would require landlords to do a short list of things:
- Provide a free way to pay rent. Recent conversions to payment apps that carry a surcharge constitute a hidden fee. Landlords who can’t provide a free app would have to accept a check, a money order, or some other free method. Additionally, a landlord cannot profit from the rent payment option. Any fee charged must be identified clearly in the rental agreement.
- State the rent as a single price. When the rental cost is listed, it must include all fees that are not optional. No “resort fee”-style listing of required costs would be allowed.
- Civil liability. A landlord who does not conform to stating the single price to tenants, or continues to charge other hidden fees would be subject to civil penalties.
- Chance to review the lease. This provision allows the tenant to read a boilerplate lease before putting down any deposit. The landlord would have to either provide a copy for review or post the lease online so the prospective tenant has time to review it thoroughly.
Considine authored a similar bill in 2023, and it was vetoed by Gov. Joe Lombardo. Why is she trying again? She has added language to make it clear that existing leases don’t have to be amended. Typically, rental leases are renewed each year, and when it comes time to renew, the update would come at that time, she said.
She also cited two lawsuits filed by the Federal Trade Commission against Greystar and Invitation Homes, which operate nationally. Invitation Homes has agreed to a $48 million settlement, but Greystar — the country’s biggest property manager — indicated in January it would fight the FTC.
Republican Assemblymember Heidi Kasama said she has concerns about the bill because it fails to take into account bills that vary like electricity, gas and electricity, which could leave landlords on the hook.
Considine said the bill would encourage landlords to have utility bills go to tenants rather than landlords, and emphasized that it could help level the playing field for businesses.
The Nevada State Apartment Association spoke against the bill as it was presented to the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor, saying it doesn’t do enough to protect small landlords who might not understand the burdens they might face if the requirements went into place. “We think there needs to be some wiggle room,” John Sandee told the committee.
GUN OWNERSHIP: AB 245 would ban anyone under the age of 21 from owning a semi-automatic shotgun or center-fire rifle. A violation would constitute a gross misdemeanor under Nevada law, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. The bill also criminalizes letting someone under 21 handle those types of weapons. Democratic Assembly Majority Floor Leader Sandra Jauregui sponsored the bill, similar to legislation Lombardo vetoed in 2023.
RESTAURANT IMPOSTERS: AB116 takes aim at restaurant delivery apps such as Uber, DoorDash and GrubHub after complaints from restaurant owners that “ghost kitchens” are posing as their brands, charging customers for food that doesn’t meet the high standards held by the restaurant’s rightful owners. Manizza’s Pizza owner Christina Martin, who exposed the problem in an 8 News Now story almost a year ago, joined owner/chef James Trees of the famed Esther’s Kitchen to tell lawmakers about the problem. Democratic Assemblymember Selena Torres-Fossett is the bill’s sponsor.
TO-GO CONTAINERS: AB244 would ban restaurants from using polystyrene foam containers. The ban would only apply to restaurants with 10 or more locations in Nevada. The penalty for a violation would be a $1,000 fine. The bill is sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Venicia Considine.
FOR SURVIVORS: AB 243 would give property tax breaks to surviving spouses of someone killed in the line of duty in the military. It would also provide vehicle registration tax breaks. The bipartisan bill is sponsored by Assemblymembers Brian Hibbetts, a Republican, and Reuben D’Silva, a Democrat.
