Q: Are there laws entitling a tenant to see the lease without having to pay a fee first? (Utah)
I'm looking to rent from an apartment complex and every complex requires $100+(usually way more) to even get to see the lease. This seems like a cash grab because you pay, I don't know, say $250 to see the lease, and it's filled with extra fees, clauses that waive rights, etc, but if you don't like it, you are out $250.
A:
I am not aware of any such laws. If you have an obvious personal trait that is protected under federal law, they might be using this fee as a way just to be difficult to make you go elsewhere without looking like they are discriminating against you. If they don't charge everyone the fee, it's possible you are being unfairly targeted and that could be illegal.
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Common issues that get targeted are race, religion, culture, LGBTQ lifestyle, etc. Some do discriminate against people who don't have a large savings in hopes that everyone that lives there will have nice cars, nice haircuts and dress expensively. Overpricing their services is not currently illegal.
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