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Tenant John Doe signed a lease in 10/2015 to rent an apartment for a year in Texas. The balance due each month consisted of the apartment rent ($1000) and a monthly fee for water/sewer/garbage collection/pest control ("fee A") which was typically $45. While the amount of "fee A" could vary, it was typically the same each month. Tenants could view the exact amount of "fee A" on a 3rd-party website, if necessary.

The apartments were owned by Company X. Company X did not deliver rent statements to tenants. Tenants were responsible for remebering their rent and also adding that to "Fee A." If necessary, tenants could stop by the apartment office and inquire about their rent balance in person before paying.

In 4/2016, Company X sold apartments to Company Z. Not long thereafter, Company Z began delivering rent balance statements to tenants' mailboxes and also charging tenants an administrative fee of $3 per month to deliver said statements.

Tenant John Doe spoke with the apartment office about the fee. Tenant said he did not believe he should pay fee because he did not agree to pay it in his lease contract. Management replied, "That's how they're doing it now."

Tenant believes that apartment tenants should be notified about such fees in advance and be given the option to opt-out of statement deliveries if they do not wish to pay the corresponding fee.

Question: If the lease contract does not specifically permit such a fee to be charged, does the landlord have the legal right to demand tenants pay an administrative fee for statement deliveries?

Tenant John Doe signed a lease in 10/2015 to rent an apartment for a year. The balance due each month consisted of the apartment rent ($1000) and a monthly fee for water/sewer/garbage collection/pest control ("fee A") which was typically $45. While the amount of "fee A" could vary, it was typically the same each month. Tenants could view the exact amount of "fee A" on a 3rd-party website, if necessary.

The apartments were owned by Company X. Company X did not deliver rent statements to tenants. Tenants were responsible for remebering their rent and also adding that to "Fee A." If necessary, tenants could stop by the apartment office and inquire about their rent balance in person before paying.

In 4/2016, Company X sold apartments to Company Z. Not long thereafter, Company Z began delivering rent balance statements to tenants' mailboxes and also charging tenants an administrative fee of $3 per month to deliver said statements.

Tenant John Doe spoke with the apartment office about the fee. Tenant said he did not believe he should pay fee because he did not agree to pay it in his lease contract. Management replied, "That's how they're doing it now."

Tenant believes that apartment tenants should be notified about such fees in advance and be given the option to opt-out of statement deliveries if they do not wish to pay the corresponding fee.

Question: If the lease contract does not specifically permit such a fee to be charged, does the landlord have the legal right to demand tenants pay an administrative fee for statement deliveries?

Tenant John Doe signed a lease in 10/2015 to rent an apartment for a year in Texas. The balance due each month consisted of the apartment rent ($1000) and a monthly fee for water/sewer/garbage collection/pest control ("fee A") which was typically $45. While the amount of "fee A" could vary, it was typically the same each month. Tenants could view the exact amount of "fee A" on a 3rd-party website, if necessary.

The apartments were owned by Company X. Company X did not deliver rent statements to tenants. Tenants were responsible for remebering their rent and also adding that to "Fee A." If necessary, tenants could stop by the apartment office and inquire about their rent balance in person before paying.

In 4/2016, Company X sold apartments to Company Z. Not long thereafter, Company Z began delivering rent balance statements to tenants' mailboxes and also charging tenants an administrative fee of $3 per month to deliver said statements.

Tenant John Doe spoke with the apartment office about the fee. Tenant said he did not believe he should pay fee because he did not agree to pay it in his lease contract. Management replied, "That's how they're doing it now."

Tenant believes that apartment tenants should be notified about such fees in advance and be given the option to opt-out of statement deliveries if they do not wish to pay the corresponding fee.

Question: If the lease contract does not specifically permit such a fee to be charged, does the landlord have the legal right to demand tenants pay an administrative fee for statement deliveries?

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user5431
user5431

Landlord charging fee for delivery of rent statement

Tenant John Doe signed a lease in 10/2015 to rent an apartment for a year. The balance due each month consisted of the apartment rent ($1000) and a monthly fee for water/sewer/garbage collection/pest control ("fee A") which was typically $45. While the amount of "fee A" could vary, it was typically the same each month. Tenants could view the exact amount of "fee A" on a 3rd-party website, if necessary.

The apartments were owned by Company X. Company X did not deliver rent statements to tenants. Tenants were responsible for remebering their rent and also adding that to "Fee A." If necessary, tenants could stop by the apartment office and inquire about their rent balance in person before paying.

In 4/2016, Company X sold apartments to Company Z. Not long thereafter, Company Z began delivering rent balance statements to tenants' mailboxes and also charging tenants an administrative fee of $3 per month to deliver said statements.

Tenant John Doe spoke with the apartment office about the fee. Tenant said he did not believe he should pay fee because he did not agree to pay it in his lease contract. Management replied, "That's how they're doing it now."

Tenant believes that apartment tenants should be notified about such fees in advance and be given the option to opt-out of statement deliveries if they do not wish to pay the corresponding fee.

Question: If the lease contract does not specifically permit such a fee to be charged, does the landlord have the legal right to demand tenants pay an administrative fee for statement deliveries?