Marketing materials for the Ryley Apartments in the Ludlow neighborhood of North Philly describe the property as an “exciting residential community” where residents can enjoy “a dynamic urban setting” and “high-end living.” But for Melissa Mont, securing an apartment in the building meant something much more essential: escaping a slumlord and being able to afford rent, which was important given that she is disabled and lives on a fixed income. So, when the building’s property management company asked her to sign an addendum to pay a $30 monthly amenity fee, Mont balked.
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“There are no amenities,” she says, adding that when she asked the management company what the fee was for, they said to cover the cost of software that provides access to the keyless building…