Class Action Lawsuit Claims Essex Management Corporation Charges Tenants Unfair ‘Junk’ Fees

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges Essex Management Corporation illegally charges tenants several hidden “junk” fees each month.

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The 26-page lawsuit was filed by a woman who lives in an apartment managed by Essex in Garden Grove, California, and says that on top of monthly payments for rent and utilities, the defendant charges her a $14.39 insurance fee, a $6 service fee and a $36.60 trash fee.

The case claims that these fees, which Essex charges every tenant at the thousands of housing complexes it manages across California and Washington, do not offer any additional benefits or services beyond those that property managers are already legally responsible for providing tenants.

“Essex presents fees as add-on ‘services’ when they are, in fact, basic requirements that landlords and property managers must meet anyway,” the filing contends. “Tenants should not be deceived and misled into paying extra for what rent already covers.”

According to the suit, Essex’s junk fees exist solely to boost its profits.

The case goes on to allege that the charges are never meaningfully disclosed as part of Essex’s advertised rent. Instead, the Essex lawsuit says, the fees are revealed after potential tenants have already invested time and money in the application process, leaving them little choice but to accept the extra costs if they want to secure housing.

“These fees also make it increasingly difficult for renters to evaluate their options for living because they cannot accurately compare the cost of renting when so many additional fees are included on top of the basic rent,” the filing explains.

The lawsuit looks to represent anyone who, during the applicable statute of limitations period, lived in a property managed by Essex Management Corporation and was charged the disputed fees.

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