Are legal fees considered an allowable "other charge" under the lease that can be included with unpaid rent?

Legal fees typically are not considered an allowable "other charge" under a lease that can be included with unpaid rent. In the context of multifamily housing, leases generally outline specific charges that can be assessed in addition to rent. These usually include utilities, maintenance fees, or late payment penalties. Legal fees, however, are often viewed as discretionary costs associated with enforcing the terms of the lease or handling disputes. Since they do not fall under the standard categories of charges outlined in most leases, landlords usually cannot add them to the tenant's rent balance as an allowable "other charge."

This distinction is important as it impacts the interpretation of lease agreements and the legal obligations of both landlords and tenants. Understanding this helps in ensuring compliance with housing laws and fair practices in tenant-landlord relationships.