# Baltimore sues property managers for hidden rent fees

> Baltimore city sues property managers and software vendors for illegal 'junk fees' on rent payments.
- Title: Baltimore sues property managers for hidden rent fees
- Summary: Baltimore city sues property managers and software vendors for illegal 'junk fees' on rent payments. Baltimore sues Pennrose Management Co., RentCafe, and…
- Keywords: baltimore, pennrose management, rentcafe, yardi systems, junk fees, maryland consumer protection law, renters, news, local, sues, property, managers
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/community/housing/vendor-junk-fees-lawsuit-JVSSIPWPEVFPNBYON6XQNOO7UY
- Author: Hallie Miller
- Published: 2026-10-21T09:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: baltimore, pennrose management, rentcafe, yardi systems, junk fees, maryland consumer protection law, renters, news, local
## Baltimore sues property managers
Baltimore city solicitor sues Pennrose Management Co. and two software vendors for illegal 'junk fees' on rent payments.

> Baltimore’s city solicitor is suing a major city property management company and two technology vendors, alleging they are charging tenants illegal "junk fees."
## Hidden rent fees
Tenants of Pennrose Management Co. face annual service fees of $300 to $420 for electronic rent payments through RentCafe and Yardi Systems.

> Tenants who pay by credit or debit card have faced annual service fees totaling $300 to $420, the lawsuit says.
## Un disclosed fees
The suit claims tenants don’t receive additional services for paying these fees but must 'pay-to-pay' or risk eviction.

> The suit alleges that tenants don’t receive additional services for paying these fees, but that they have been forced to "pay-to-pay" or else risk being evicted.
## Violates law
The fees violate Maryland’s consumer protection law due to unfair trade practices and inadequate fee disclosure.

> That would violate Maryland’s consumer protection law, according to the lawsuit, because of unfair trade practices and a failure to adequately disclose the fees.
## Pennrose's impact
Pennrose operates nine low-income housing developments in Baltimore with rents starting at $869 for one-bedroom apartments.

> Pennrose, which operates across the U.S. and has nine low-income housing developments in Baltimore, houses many older adults, people with disabilities, and others on low or fixed incomes. Rents typically start at about $869 for one-bedroom apartments and go as high as $1,654 for four bedrooms, according to the lawsuit.
## Switch to digital
Pennrose switched from in-person rent payments to RentCafe processing around 2024.

> Around 2024, according to the lawsuit, Pennrose switched from accepting rent in person to processing rent payments via RentCafe.
## Tenant success
Baltimore resident Rodney Deaver won $250,000 in court after fighting unfair charges from his rental building.

> Baltimore resident Rodney Deaver’s 2024 lawsuit against his rental building and property manager resulted in a judgment of more than $250,000 in his favor, roughly 800 times what the defendants acknowledged they owed.
## Key takeaway

Baltimore sues Pennrose Management Co., RentCafe, and Yardi Systems for charging renters hidden fees that violate Maryland's consumer protection law.