'It kept adding up': how add-on utility fees can lead to eviction for tenants
Tenants can be evicted for not paying utilities even if they have paid rent – tenants and their allies are fighting back
TL;DR
- Ratio Utility Billing System (Rubs) fees are additional utility charges that tenants owe to landlords, often not disclosed in initial rent prices or leases.
- Non-payment of Rubs fees can lead to eviction, even if the tenant has paid their base rent, a situation affecting vulnerable populations like disabled tenants.
- Tenant attorneys and advocates report an increase in utility-related eviction cases across several major US cities.
- Cities and states are implementing regulations and bans on Rubs, while tenants are organizing protests and legal challenges.
- Property management companies and third-party billers argue Rubs are necessary for managing utilities in buildings without individual meters and can encourage conservation, though marketing materials highlight potential revenue increases.
- Greystar, the nation's largest apartment manager, has faced scrutiny and legal action regarding its use of Rubs, including a settlement with the FTC over 'junk fees'.