Bringing Greater Transparency to Renters & Simplicity to Partners

At Apartment List, we believe renters deserve a clear picture of their total housing costs before they move in. In line with new legislative regulations aimed at promoting transparency in rental pricing, we’ve adopted Total Price and a Fee Calculator as the standard way to present pricing and fees. This approach helps renters make informed decisions — and helps partners build trust through transparent, standardized listings.

We know that not all property management systems (PMSs) have built capabilities to support detailed fee data yet. That’s why we’ve created this short guide to help you organize, structure, and share your fees effectively on Apartment List.

Steps to Get Your Fees Updated on Apartment List

To get your fees live and compliant, follow these three steps:

1. Organize Your Fees Internally

• Identify all applicable fees — application, move-in, pet, parking, utilities, etc.
• Standardize names and categories across properties to ensure consistency for renters.
• Keep descriptions concise and renter-friendly.

2. Load Fees Into Your PMS

• Enter all fees into your PMS using the appropriate fields for name, description, frequency, and amount.
• Where supported, mark fees as required, optional, or situational.
• Avoid long or complex naming conventions; clarity helps renters understand what they’ll owe.

3. Connect With Your Providers

• Make sure your PMS is integrated with Internet Listing Services (ILS) and websites.
• Apartment List supports MITS 5-compliant feeds for seamless fee ingestion.
• If your PMS provider isn’t yet supporting MITS 5, reach out to your Apartment List representative to discuss next steps.

Why This Matters: From a Renter’s Perspective

Today’s renters want a full picture of affordability — not just the advertised rent, but the actual monthly and move-in costs, including utilities, fees, and required deposits.

At Apartment List, we are always working on the ground with our renters to build the best experience. Our recent research shows a growing demand for clarity and consistency in the housing search process. For example, renters are asking: “What is the total move-in cost and are the utilities included for a one-bedroom, one-bath?”

• “Is $800 the total rent amount?”
• “Is it really $769?”
• “What is the exact total I’ll have to pay for one month, including all fees?”

These inquiries reflect a broader expectation for transparency in pricing and process. When renters can easily see all upfront and recurring costs — along with clear application requirements — they are able to make more informed, confident decisions. Ultimately, cost transparency strengthens trust between renters and property managers, reducing friction throughout the leasing journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What fees are displayed on Apartment List? A: With the new MITS 5-compliant feeds, we will display any fees sent to us by the PMCs. These can be move-in costs such as refundable security deposits, utilities, parking, pets, or situational fees such as damage replacement or late fees.

We have rolled out Fee Transparency in the following states: CT, MA, MN, and NV. Fee Transparency will be live in CO as of 1/1/2026.

Q: What integrations are supported? A: We currently support MITS 5-compliant feeds and are working on integrations with the following PMS providers:

• Yardi Voyager
• RealPage OneSite
• Entrata

If your PMS isn’t listed above it means we have not received an updated fee file from them. We encourage you to reach out to your PMS and encourage them to provide an updated fee file to your ILSs. If you have any questions, contact your Apartment List representative to confirm your system’s compatibility.

Q: What if I have questions or my PMS doesn’t yet support fee feeds? A: We’re here to help. Reach out to your Apartment List representative or email __clientservices@solutions.apartmentlist.com__ to discuss your options.

Ready to Get Started?

Organize your fees, ensure they’re in your PMS, and confirm your integration is MITS 5-compliant.

Transparency isn’t just a renter benefit, it’s a competitive advantage.