Junk fees is a broad, often informal term for charges that residents may view as hidden, unclear, unavoidable, or not tied to a meaningful choice or service. In multifamily housing, the risk usually arises when fees outside base rent are not clearly disclosed, are mandatory but displayed separately, or vary by jurisdiction. Operations teams often evaluate these charges by asking whether residents can avoid the fee, whether the service is fundamental to habitability, and whether state law restricts the fee.