You've got to be kidding! Right? a renters vent

[Amelia Peabody]

So I moved into this apartment 18 years ago. It has a pool (free!), laundry facilities on site - I have a key ( across from my door even though I have to go outside and climb over the snow plow piles lugging my clothes ), very large interiors and I could plant flowers. The rent was rather outrageous but I could have my cat for free.

Now this year the rent has more than doubled to $1115 now. I had to pay a one time cat fee $250. There is a gym - one time fee $75. The pool is still free. They have added water and sewer to the lease, based on apartment type not occupancy plus trash removal, add $80-$90 per month. The cost to do laundry went up to $1.50 to wash and $1.50 to dry a while ago.

So - tonight I see a notice on the laundry door. I walk across the parking lot thinking it was going to be closed for a day or something. There I saw this sign:

"Neighbors - effective Sept 7th ( that's TODAY ) the use of the laundry is limited to paying residents. Key rental will be $10 a month or $100 a year."

Um - WHAT??!!! I have to PAY to get in to PAY to do my laundry?? And you don't send notices around ahead of time, just a sign on the laundry door?? What about the townhouses who have washers and dryers in their homes?

I can't figure out the logic....It's not to keep out non-residents, we all have keys to get in. Help DIS'ers what could possibly be the purpose for this??

 

[Handbag Lady]

So I moved into this apartment 18 years ago. It has a pool (free!), laundry facilities on site - I have a key ( across from my door even though I have to go outside and climb over the snow plow piles lugging my clothes ), very large interiors and I could plant flowers. The rent was rather outrageous but I could have my cat for free.

Now this year the rent has more than doubled to $1115 now. I had to pay a one time cat fee $250. There is a gym - one time fee $75. The pool is still free. They have added water and sewer to the lease, based on apartment type not occupancy plus trash removal, add $80-$90 per month. The cost to do laundry went up to $1.50 to wash and $1.50 to dry a while ago.

So - tonight I see a notice on the laundry door. I walk across the parking lot thinking it was going to be closed for a day or something. There I saw this sign:

"Neighbors - effective Sept 7th ( that's TODAY ) the use of the laundry is limited to paying residents. Key rental will be $10 a month or $100 a year."

Um - WHAT??!!! I have to PAY to get in to PAY to do my laundry?? And you don't send notices around ahead of time, just a sign on the laundry door?? What about the townhouses who have washers and dryers in their homes?

I can't figure out the logic....It's not to keep out non-residents, we all have keys to get in. Help DIS'ers what could possibly be the purpose for this??

Time to move.

Our rent is $1950. Pet deposits are $500. Our keys are free and the crappy laundry room is $1.25 to wash and $1.00 to dry. The gym is free as is the pool.

I have NEVER heard of paying for keys to use the laundry room.

 

[redlight]

Looks like they are finding more ways to make money off of you. How do the other tenants feel?

 

[pandora174]

Time to move ! We pay $1250 for a brand new 3 bd/2br home with fenced yard & 1 car garage. We pay all utliities incl water but not garbage & had to buy our own washer/dryer & are responsible for our grass being cut. We are in So FL but I have been a renter for 17 years & never had such a hike ! We paid first month down & 2 securities b/c it's in a good neighborhood & so far no complaints & very within our budget.

Good luck !

 

[Amelia Peabody]

Ah if only I could move - but I have a single income and $160 in the bank. I just can't figure the logic in this. Guess lots of neighbors will be getting friendly and share keys.

It will definitely be mentioned to my boss when I remind him I asked for a raise based on increased responsibility, basically a "promotion" an unasked for one at that.

 

[terri01p]

Just plain greed !

 

[Tinijocaro]

Is it possible that it is a key deposit?

 

[JR6ooo4]

that sounds like a very drastic increase. is there a renters action comittee to help out, in your area. our rent would go up about $25 every two years. but htat was 8 years ago. things are different now.

rent doubling is not normal, especially now! mabye a different unit in the complex might work better.

Mikeeee

 

[dakcp2001]

Time to get all of your neighbors together to start commitee. Strength in numbers! If you think its ridiculous, I am sure they all do too, and if you all get together and tell the management this is not happening, they will need to work with you.

You need like a tenants association.

 

[flying_babyb]

I will never Ever complain about my place again. I pay 475 water included for a two bedroom. Laundry is a $1 to wash and dry. The cats cost me $500 securtiy but now there free every month. No gym, No pool, No close shopping, Only good thing is its a 30 min walk to work.

 

[3boymthr]

Start saving now so you don't get nickel and dimed to death...

I have to say that it sounds to me like your building has a new owners. They have to make a enough money to pay the mortgate and they'll do it by doing all kinds of crazy things. We're running into similar issues at my office (new management company a few months ago): they will probably also start charging for repairs in your apartment that they consider maintenance - they'll call it a convenience fee or tell you it's not covered by your lease because it's not specifically listed in the lease. Also expect them to stop doing routine maintenance (ie, potholes in the parking lot, holes in the hall carpet, etc.) unless there is a petition by the renters as a whole to resolve the issue and then expect them to do the minimum to resolve the issue. If you loose the key to your apartment or the laundry room expect to pay an outrageous price to get a new one - they'll tell you it's to cover the cost of getting the locks changed then just make a duplicate of the master key . Uh Huh - start planning your move now. It's only going to get worse.

BTW - I'd check on the water thing. Unless each apartment has a separate meter I don't think they can legally charge you for the water. Call the water department in your town.

 

[JR6ooo4]

northwest of chicago, 26 miles if you look below my avatar, we were paying (6 years ago) $900 for a 2nd floor two bedroom apt. one bath, living room, dining, kitchen, 6x10 heated inside storage, 2 car garage and a 2.5 car private driveway. that was a steal around here.

Mikeeee

 

[disykat]

I don't know how expensive things are in your area, but rent doubling in 18 years doesn't seem unusual to me. I assume it was gradual? (The last time I rented was 22 years ago, but the currant price to rent that place would be quite a bit more than double what I paid.)

I've never heard of a key rental and that doesn't seem reasonable, but I'm guessing they are having trouble with non-residents using the laundry facilities?

I would definitely be checking out the area rates to comparable places to see if you are being cheated.

 

[bicker]

Help DIS'ers what could possibly be the purpose for this??

Search the archives for discussions about fee "unbundling" and surcharges and such. This is a very significant trend, which has only increased in recent years. It's all being done in the name of revenue enhancement, and in recognition of the fact that most folks won't take the advice that you've been given by others in this thread (i.e., to move). People still fly the airlines that charge extra for checking bags, or for early boarding. People still patronize the cable companies that charge extra for cable box for the television in the kitchen. Many consumers seem to make their choices based on the base price, without much regard for added fees. Still other consumers prefer the ability to control how much they pay, by perhaps curtailing their use of surcharged services (i.e., taking one less bag on vacation, or doing without cable in one room of the house). As long as consumers reward the companies that do this sort of thing, more and more of them will do it, and it will continue to become a standard fixture of the consumer marketplace.

Thanks for your story. Next time airlines or cable companies or universities or Disney adds some new fee, I'll have one more example of the phenomenon to include in my list.

 

[Sparx]

yikes!

i will never complain about my apartment ever again.

 

[Uuaww]

it is renting a key. why would they have to pay monthly? I could understand a one time charge of say, $10 or whatever the cost of the key, but not monthly!

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I will never Ever complain about my place again. I pay 475 water included for a two bedroom. Laundry is a $1 to wash and dry. The cats cost me $500 securtiy but now there free every month. No gym, No pool, No close shopping, Only good thing is its a 30 min walk to work.

Do you really have 5 humans and 9 animals living in a 2 bedroom?

 

[bicker]

it is renting a key. why would they have to pay monthly?

I suspect the key has nothing to do with what the fee is for. Rather, my guess is that this is reflecting the fact that the folks who own the machines are not the same folks who pay for the water and electricity, and for keeping the laundry room clean and neat.

 

[mjkacmom]

If it makes you feel better, our property taxes have increase $6000 since we bought our home 12 years ago, from $5000 and year to $11,000. If I had renters, I would've had to double the rent.

 

[merryweather20]

I suspect the key has nothing to do with what the fee is for. Rather, my guess is that this is reflecting the fact that the folks who own the machines are not the same folks who pay for the water and electricity, and for keeping the laundry room clean and neat.

The contracts between landlord and the vending owner would take into account who is paying for water/electricity as well as the traffic and use. I doubt they told them that they were charging $100 to use MY machines.

OP I would drop the vending company a line and let them know. Maybe they can fight the fight for you.