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Tenants say surprise common-area utility fees are common; bill would require clearer disclosures and cap pass-throughs
Summary
Multiple tenants and tenant advocates urged the Council to limit surprise common-area utility pass-throughs and require clear lease disclosures after several witnesses described high and unpredictable monthly utility charges. Developers and some property managers said utilities are part of building operating costs and complex to standardize.
Several tenants told the Committee on Housing they were surprised by large, recurring common-area utility fees passed through by building owners and managers. The Fair Housing Practices Amendment Act would require clearer disclosure of common-area utility fees, limit unexpected pass-throughs and provide tenants more ability to challenge charges used to calculate monthly bills.
Tenant testimony
Laura DeJagger, a tenant association president at a 200-unit Navy Yard building, described months in which common-area electricity and water charges pushed her household—s monthly bills up by hundreds of dollars on short notice.…
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