LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A new Nevada law protects renters from “hidden” or “junk” fees, making sure tenants know the total cost of rent before they sign a lease.
The fees may have obscure names, but come as a “surprise” to tenants after they moved in: they may be pest control fees, Amazon locker or parcel fees, or recreation fees.
A.B. 121 was brought back, this session, by Assemblymember Venicia Considine.
Starting Oct. 1, the bill mandates the following:
- The advertised lease is what you pay (exceptions include a fee for complexes that utilize a master meter for water)
- A landlord can choose to break down all the fees contributing to the cost of rent before a tenant signs a lease agreement
- Tenants must have a way to review their lease, especially if its dozens of pages in length
- A mandatory free option for tenants to pay the rent
- If you pay for an application and credit check when a unit is already off the market, a landlord must provide a refund
Concerned renters keep sending their bills with surprise fees to Assemblymember Considine.
“Somebody just sent me this one today: the rent is $323 more a month because of the fees. There’s a damage waiver. There’s a lifestyle fee of $125.00 a month,” Considine said, showing the rental ledger.
“Breaking the lease laws are really, really tough. So your choice is, you somehow find a way: you take your money away from childcare, you take your money away from groceries to pay the rent,” she said.
After Oct. 1, if you get surprise fees on your rent, you are allowed to take your landlord or complex to court.
The lawmaker will be conducting town halls to help Nevadans understand the new laws and their rights as tenants.
“You can help us stop that bad behavior and also make sure that you’re not stuck paying for things that you shouldn’t be paying for to begin with,” she said.
Considine urges tenants to read the fine print on leases closely, especially if they sign a lease before October 1.
The Nevada State Apartment Association provided the following statement:
Copyright 2025 KVVU. All rights reserved.
