White House Announces it is Taking on ‘Junk Fees’ in Rental Housing
The Biden administration announced today that it is taking on so-called “junk fees” in rental housing in order to lower costs for renters. The administration portrays standard industry fees – such as application fees – as junk fees.
NAHB disagrees with the administration’s approach of broadly characterizing standard industry charges as junk fees. In particular, NAHB has engaged the administration to explain why certain fees, such as application fees, are charged. We have previously addressed this issue in comments to the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with the respect to the need for tenant screening.
The administration says that various major rental housing platforms such as Zillow, Apartments.com and AffordableHousing.com will be providing more upfront information on various fees charged. While NAHB is supportive of transparency, we will continue to stand up for our members’ rights to effectively manage their apartment communities.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Oct 08, 2026
Remodeling Market Sentiment Remains Stable in Third Quarter Despite Headwinds
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released the NAHB Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the third quarter, posting a reading of 62—up one point compared to the previous quarter.
Trends
Oct 07, 2026
Share of Homes With Two-Story Foyers Increases For First Time Since 2022
For the first time since 2022, the share of new homes with two-story foyers increased, according to the Census Bureau's Survey of Construction (SOC). Despite the increase, the market share of two-story foyers has generally trended downward since 2017, with most new single-family homes being built without a two-story foyer both nationally and regionally.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Oct 08, 2026
Remodeling Market Sentiment Remains Stable in Third Quarter Despite Headwinds
In the third quarter of 2026, the NAHB Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 62, up one point compared to the previous quarter. The RMI has remained within a narrow band between 59 and 70 for the past four years.
Economics
Oct 07, 2026
ARM Share Increased as Mortgage Rates Spiked
Mortgage application activity declined as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose sharply. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, decreased 7.7% month-over-month in September on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared to a year ago, total mortgage applications were lower by 35.4%.
Economics
Oct 06, 2026
Mortgage Rates Rise as Treasury Yields Top 5%
Mortgage rates rose sharply in September as multiple factors applied significant upward pressure on the U.S. treasury yields. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.86% in September, up nearly 20 basis points (bps) from August.