Loretta Byers had no concerns with re-upping her lease at her Las Vegas apartment — that is until she was hit with an unexpected $900 annual surcharge by her property management company.
Byers is just one of many residents at two Vegas apartment complexes where junk fees — or more specifically “tech package fees” — have been added to the cost of rent without consultation. Worse, management is forcing residents to sign addendums cementing the new fees — even though they weren’t part of the original lease agreements.
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Local authorities are now hoping to clamp down on these junk fees, seeking to help vulnerable citizens with their fight against corporate greed.
"More money. That’s what I believe,” Byers shared with KTNV Las Vegas when discussing the motives behind the new fees. “I really think it’s the greenbacks."
Vegas tenants hit with surprise internet fees
"No!" That was Byers’ emphatic response when KTNV Las Vegas reporter Darcy Spears asked Byers if she needed or wanted the new internet service her landlord was attempting to force on her.
Byers recently learned she would be charged an additional $75 monthly for Cox internet service. This came as a shock since she and her husband renewed their lease in February, 2025 — one that explicitly stated the "internet to your dwelling will be paid by you… directly to the utility service provider."
But despite this clear language in her contract, Byers received a letter dated April 29, 2025, informing her that the complex was changing terms for all tenants by adding this tech fee on top of current rent. The letter stated the fee would become part of her "standard lease obligations" and would require signing a lease addendum agreeing to these new terms.
"It’s being forced," said Byers. "Take it, or leave. And nobody wants to break their lease on purpose. I know I’m not going to. But I don’t want to feel that I’m going to be forced to do something because they want more money coming in."
But Intrigue Apartments, where Byers and her husband live, isn’t the only Vegas complex implementing this strategy. Residents at the Tides on Twain apartment complex also received similar notifications about a new mandatory $65 monthly internet fee for Cox’s service.
One Tides on Twain resident, who uses Cox’s ConnectAssist program for low-income households, currently pays just $30 monthly for internet. Under the new mandatory plan, her costs would more than double.
Like with Intrigue Apartments, the new changes at Tides on Twain were to come into effect on June 1.
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Management companies begin to backpedal
When confronted by KTNV’s 13 Investigates team, both Intrigue Apartments and Tides on Twain’s management companies quickly changed their tune about the surprise internet fees.
According to the management companies, their original notices contained significant errors in stating that the new internet charges would apply to all current residents starting June 1. Advanced Management Group, which oversees Intrigue Apartments, claimed it never intended to force existing residents with active leases to pay the new $75 monthly fee. Similarly, FPI Management insisted that its $65 fee announcement for tenants at Tides on Twain also contained errors.
Both companies have since backpedaled, stating the internet program was only meant to affect residents upon lease renewal or new tenants moving in.
Local authorities hoping to curb junk fees
With this story top of mind, Nevada politicians are looking to pass legislation designed to protect local residents from junk fees.
"I believe it’s predatory. I also believe it’s deceptive," Nevada Assemblymember Venicia Considine told KTNV Las Vegas. "The apartment complex is just telling all their residents it’s coming because there’s no law to stop it."
Considine is one of the backers of Assembly Bill 121, a recent measure that has already cleared both houses of the Nevada legislature and is awaiting signing by governor Joe Lombardo. AB 121 seeks to outlaw surprise charges and junk fees in rental contracts while also requiring more transparency to tenants. The bill mandates that rent be listed as one comprehensive number that includes all mandatory fees.
"If [something isn’t done], we are really sending a message that we are allowing corporations and hedge funds and private equities to come in here and take money from people deceptively. And I just don’t think that as a state, we want to be known for that," said Considine.
How renters can protect themselves from junk fees
While AB 121 seeks to address the issue of junk fees, it’s not as if Nevada residents have no protections from these predatory practices.
The biggest issue, it seems, isn’t existing legal protections for consumers, but rather that many tenants don’t understand their rights or feel powerless to enforce them, especially when faced with legal threats and complex lease documents with multiple addendums.
If you’re a tenant concerned about surprise fees, here are a few actionable steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Document everything: Keep copies of all lease agreements, communications with management and payment records.
- Carefully review your lease agreement: Before signing, request time to review the entire document, including all addendums. Note exactly what services are included in rent and which will be billed separately. You can also request a written, itemized list of all monthly charges.
- Know your rights regarding changes: Landlords generally cannot change lease terms during the lease period unless the lease specifically allows for it or you agree to the changes. Nevada follows the principle that lease terms, once signed, are binding on both parties. Unilateral changes to existing lease agreements without tenant consent are generally not permitted.
- Don’t sign addendums under pressure: If presented with a lease addendum, take time to review it. You are not obligated to sign immediately, so take your time and consider enlisting the help of an attorney so that you understand everything.
- File a complaint: Report deceptive practices to your state’s Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and the County Commissioner’s office.
- Strength in numbers: Connect with neighbors facing similar issues. Collective action can be more effective than individual complaints.
As the battle against junk fees continues in Nevada, the experiences at Intrigue Apartments and Tides on Twain highlight a crucial reality: landlords often back down from illegal fee hikes when tenants stand their ground.
While Assembly Bill 121 represents a promising step toward protecting renters, your best defense is still vigilance and knowledge of your existing rights.
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