MANDATORY "BENEFITS" PACKAGES

They aren't rent, but they are mandatory.  And it really is just another way for landlords to keep more of your money as income.  Other than an air filter every 90 days, there is no real gain.  They also require you to use their renter's insurance and name them on the policy, and they require more than the City does, and since the reduction is only $10 if you have your own, many people will use theirs only to find out that- surprise!- they don't actually get any benefit from it! 

See the images below for the agreements themselves.  There is really nothing in them that you can't get elsewhere - for example, almost every bank has identity protection.  Rent reporting you can 

But these fees allow property managers and landlords the extra income to write garbage like this

Why you should offer a resident benefits package | Buildium

And they offer the landlords cash incentives to allow these charges to tenants. (Not that most landlords give a care about their tenants anyhow.) 

How To Increase Revenue With A Resident Benefits Package 1 | Latchel

I've been posting in social media groups about this and not surprised to find these predatory fees are prevalent in another red state:

"Yep, we have those in Texas too. Our old apartment "rent" was 1530 + 20 resident benefit, so rent was 1550. The benefit was basically that they mailed us a new air filter every month"

Deca will not tell you about them until you get the lease.  They only tell you the rent. 

One of the main ways to fight this is through the courts.  This agreement, like employer arbitration* agreements, is illusory, and especially in a case like mine- where my original lease is being extended to a month to month agreement, and my initial agreement to the terms did not include this extra cost- would be difficult for Deca to defend in the Missouri Supreme Court.

Of course, you have to get to the Supreme Court.  If you know of lawyers or plaintiffs that would be willing to pursue this with me, please have them email bookemonsterslpl@gmail.com 

* "Agreement is illusory" This is regarding employee arbitration agreements, but I know it well and it has been useful in other cases like this often cited.  (I know it because Bristol Manor is another predatory company.  Much of their wealth comes from Medicaid, just as many landlords are the main beneficiaries of Section 8.) 

Is Your Arbitration Agreement Still Enforceable in Missouri After Baker v. Bristol Care, Inc.? - Ogletree Deakins

Summary of SC93451, Carla Baker v (mo.gov)