The proposal targets fees that current tenants and housing advocates say routinely add hundreds of dollars to monthly costs without appearing in advertised rents — charges for utilities, pest control, trash removal, and building amenities that landlords have bundled separately from the headline price.

Under the legislation, landlords would be required to itemize every mandatory charge at the time of listing. If a tenant later discovers a fee not disclosed before signing, the bill would allow them to void the lease. The measure does not cap what landlords can charge — it requires only that they say so in advance.

San Francisco's rental market already carries some of the country's highest base rents. Tenant advocates have argued that fee stacking effectively hides the true cost of a unit, making it harder for renters to comparison-shop or budget accurately. The city's rent ordinance covers base rent increases for most units, but ancillary fees have operated in a separate, less regulated space.

How the legislation would be enforced, and which city agency would handle complaints, has not been detailed in materials released so far. The Department of Building Inspection and the Rent Board both have partial jurisdiction over landlord-tenant disputes, and the bill's path through that administrative thicket will matter as much as its passage.

The Board of Supervisors has not yet scheduled a committee hearing on the measure. Watch for a referral to the Land Use and Transportation Committee, where the scope of tenant remedies and enforcement mechanisms are likely to draw the most scrutiny. A budget analysis from the Controller's office would also typically accompany the legislation before a full board vote.