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Kineda77 t1_j699vig wrote

Reply to comment by Charlesinrichmond in Report: The State of Housing in the Richmond Region 2023 by opienandm

I bet that "nearly $1,400" doesn't include the required payment of water, sewer, trash, security, and sometimes pest control fees. Listed "rent" is not what people actually pay in many apartment "communities."
Most people expect to pay for electricity, internet/cable, and gas (if present) separately. Not including the other fees in the listed rent price, especially those which are a set-amount monthly fee (not based on usage) is just false advertising to make the rental price appear lower than it is.

When people include these required fees when they talk about how much their apartment costs to rent, they aren't telling lies, they're telling the real truth.

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Charlesinrichmond t1_j69iofs wrote

Probably, but the water bill isn't rent? I've never rented a place and not paid for water or rent..

And it normalizes the price. They are comparing to the previous price which was calculated the same way. And this is an affordable housing group that's skew is to portray rent as high, they certainly aren't trying to diminish it.

So I don't think those are very useful points honestly. Should trash bags from the grocery store be in there too? Can't use the garbage service without garbage bags

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Kineda77 t1_j6btok3 wrote

I thought you were saying that the people in RVA reddit exaggerate their rent price? That the housing report showed lower prices than you'd expect from the way people talk on here? If I misunderstood, then I apologize. But I share the following from my experiences all the same, because the difference moving to this area was a surprise.

When renting an apartment (in a few northern states plus Maryland), I've never paid for water, or sewer, or trash, or security, or pest control as separate (but required to pay) fees. Those services/utilities were all included as part of the stated/advertised rental price (except "security" was not available at most places I've lived). Then my partner and I moved to Richmond last year. All the apartment "communities" had at least 4 of those 5 services/utilities as separate required fees. With all the fees added up (to the real price of rent), what had sounded like affordable rent (until we learned the truth), wasn't actually.

We ended up renting the one place we found advertising rent with water, sewer, and trash included in the advertised price (it's a half-house, not an apartment community). No security to pay for and I think pest control is included (we've had no need to check for that in the lease). But if I was renting a place that advertised as $1310 but I was required to pay security, trash, sewer/water, and pest control =$1425, then I'd absolutely say my rent is $1425 when talking to other people, yet I would write "$1310" when answering a survey or filling out any kind of relevant paperwork.

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Charlesinrichmond t1_j6fgxrv wrote

ah, I moved here from up north and had to pay all that stuff generally. Exception was older/bigger buildings where they didn't have the tech/infrastructure to carve it out.

I've never seen pest control fees, not doubting they exist somewhere, but are they common?

I'd say the issue is if things changed. I don't think they have, but have only been in Richmond 10ish years

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Marino4K t1_j69c819 wrote

I’m considering a move back to NC because RVA’s rent prices have gone far too high for the low quality you’re getting, especially in my neck of the woods. Every property is owned by a scum lord with a shit rental company like Dodson.

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Charlesinrichmond t1_j69uxaj wrote

where in NC is cheaper though? Not Charlotte, Asheville or the Triangle. Wilmington?

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Marino4K t1_j69x9xy wrote

Winston and Greensboro. Similar prices but more up to date places with a little less slulmlord.

I’d also move back to Charlotte if I could find a good enough job, more bang for your buck

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Charlesinrichmond t1_j6fgkzm wrote

interesting thanks. I don't know either place well enough to have an opinion

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