Baltimore sues RentCafe, Yardi, Pennrose Management Co. over alleged junk fees. Julie Strupp Thu, October 22, 2026 at 12:07 PM PDT Dive brief: * The city of Baltimore has filed a lawsuit against Yardi, RentCafe and Pennrose Management Co., claiming that they charged tenants hidden fees to pay rent in violation of the city's Consumer Protection Ordinance, according to a Monday press release from Mayor Brandon Scott's office. * Yardi owns RentCafe, while Pennrose Management Co. uses the platform in its capacity as owner and manager of hundreds of apartments for low-income residents in Baltimore, per the release. Scott and the City Council filed the case on Monday, titled Mayor and City Council of Baltimore vs. Yardi Systems, LLC, et al., in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. * The lawsuit alleges that RentCafe charges tenants "pay to pay" fees for rent by steering them "toward fee-generating payment options by obscuring the fees associated with each payment method," per the release. Multifamily Dive reached out to the companies for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication. Dive insight: The lawsuit claims that RentCafe, one of the country's largest property management platforms, surprises "vulnerable tenants with compulsory junk fees," per the release. Specifically, it alleges that the platform hides payment charge information across multiple web pages and in fine print, and does not "disclose the fee associated with a selected payment method until the last step of the payment flow." Such practices are becoming increasingly common in the apartment industry, according to the release, and can significantly increase the overall cost of housing. "These illegal junk fees effectively raise the rent for thousands of Baltimore residents," Scott said in the release. "This is about holding these businesses accountable for their deceptive practices and protecting Baltimoreans' hard-earned money." In response, jurisdictions are beginning to crack down on such charges, and a growing number of localities now require fee disclosure up front. In August, for example, Seattle passed a ban on rental "junk fees," including administrative service charges, pet rent and package fees, in an effort to make the city's rental market more transparent and affordable. The ordinance requires clear, upfront pricing for tenants and strengthens enforcement mechanisms. Earlier this year, Washington, D.C., also tightened its existing consumer protection laws against "excessive fees throughout the rental process," according to an April press release from D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb's office. Recommended Reading

Yale partners with Yardi to bring simple Digital Key access to multifamily communities. October 8, 2026 Yale, part of Fortune Brands Innovations, announced an integration with Yardi to offer a digital key solution within the RentCafe Resident App. The integration will give residents a convenient way to unlock their homes and community spaces through the same app they already use to pay rent, submit work orders and manage other aspects of resident life. It will also help property teams simplify access management. Digital access solutions like RentCafe Digital Key can help eliminate common pain points like lost keys, rekeying and trips to the leasing office while giving property teams a more efficient way to manage access across their communities. Looking for quick answers on security topics? Try Ask SDM, its new smart AI search tool. Looking for a reprint of this article? From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today! JOIN TODAY to unlock your recommendations. Already have an account? Sign In

Yale partners with Yardi to bring simple Digital Key access to multifamily communities. Tue, October 06, 2026 This partnership will give residents mobile access to their apartments through the same app they use to pay rent, submit work orders and manage everyday resident needs SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., October 6, 2026- Yale, part of Fortune Brands Innovations, today announced an integration with Yardi(R) to offer a digital key solution within the RentCafe(R) Resident App. The integration will give residents a convenient way to unlock their homes and community spaces through the same app they already use to pay rent, submit work orders and manage other aspects of resident life. It will also help property teams simplify access management. With annual resident turnover averaging approximately 50% across multifamily portfolios(1), digital access solutions like RentCafe Digital Key can help eliminate common pain points like lost keys, rekeying and trips to the leasing office while giving property teams a more efficient way to manage access across their communities. "As multifamily operators continue investing in connected technologies, they're looking for solutions that simplify operations while making the resident experience easier," said John McGuire, Senior Vice President at Fortune Brands Innovations. "Digital access can remove friction on both sides of the rental experience, giving residents a simple way to access their homes and community spaces while helping property teams reduce manual access management. By connecting Yale smart access solutions with Yardi workflows, we're making it easier for more communities to bring these benefits to residents and staff." The integration connects Yale smart access solutions with Yardi workflows, enabling automated digital key delivery and recovery synced with Voyager and CRM IQ data. For residents, this means the ability to unlock their unit with a digital key from their phone through the RentCafe Resident App, without a physical fob or trip to the leasing office. For property teams, access can be managed digitally throughout the resident lifecycle, helping reduce manual coordination and simplify access for residents, vendors, maintenance teams and property tours. Key capabilities for multifamily operators The integration simplifies access for residents and property teams while reducing turnover friction and improving operational visibility. Key benefits include: * Operational efficiency: Property teams can minimize manual coordination, accelerate unit turnover and significantly lower rekeying-related costs, helping reduce overall operating expenses and improve the bottom line. * Workflow automation:Access permissions are automatically updated based on lease start and end dates, while also enabling limited-time access for vendors and maintenance teams to support faster unit turnover. * Simple installation, affordable scale: No hub or Wi-Fi connection required, minimizing installation complexity and lowering the barrier for owners and operators looking to bring smart access to more communities, unit types and properties with limited infrastructure. * One app for residents: Residents can use the RentCafe Resident App they already have to unlock their unit and access amenity spaces, common areas, package rooms and other connected spaces, replacing a patchwork of keys, fobs and access systems, and reducing trips to the leasing office to pick up or replace keys. "Building a seamless renter experience means removing friction from every interaction, including how residents access their homes," said Matt Seasholls, Industry Principal at Yardi. "By bringing digital access into the RentCafe Resident App and connecting it with leasing, maintenance and resident workflows, we're giving renters one simple experience while helping operators manage access without adding another disconnected system." The Yale integrations are now available within the RentCafe Resident App. The integrations give property teams a simple, cost-effective path to digital access while giving residents a more convenient way to move through their communities. Property managers and operators can contact their Yardi or Yale representatives for more information, or visit https://shopyalehome.com/pages/multi-family-housing or Yardi.com. ABOUT YALE Yale Home is a leader in smart home security that protects the people, places, and things Yale love most. Yale secure homes throughout the United States and Canada with its innovative smart locks and smart storage solutions to protect front doors, interior doors, cabinets, package deliveries, and more. The Yale residential brand in the United States and Canada is part of Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. For more information, visit shopyalehome.com/pages/multi-family-housing and www.FBIN.com to learn more. ABOUT YARDI Yardi(R) develops industry-leading software for all types and sizes of real estate companies around the world. With more than 10,000 employees, Yardi is working with its clients to drive significant innovation in the real estate industry. For more information on how Yardi is Energized for Tomorrow, visit yardi.com. MEDIA CONTACT