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Another new state law is in effect this new year. Landlords must now let potential tenants know the full cost of renting an apartment or home.The new law will give Mainers more transparency into what they’re actually signing up for when they rent a home.Redbank Village resident Cheryl Harkins said she’s been dealing with unexpected higher rent payments at her own home. “With the rent increases and the hidden fees that were added to our rent prices every month, it got to be ridiculous,” Harkins said.Harkins supported a bill now law to help protect renters like her.In public testimony, Democratic Lawmaker Chris Kessler said rent at Redbank Village in South Portland increased by as much as $700 a month with fees that are buried in lengthy leases. Kessler said they’ve been allowed to list their apartments at a price that doesn’t truly reflect how much a resident will have to pay, so he sought to change that. “Renters are the most squeezed when it comes to the housing market,” Kessler said. “Them having this tool is just going to help make their lives a little bit easier.”As of the new year, Maine law now said the landlord must provide disclosure of costs the tenant will be responsible for before signing a lease. They must disclose the total cost of rent, and mandatory and optional recurring fees, any utility service costs and any other costs that will fall onto the tenant.”I am hoping that this is going to give people much more transparency when they’re about to enter into a new lease,” Kessler said.When it is all in writing, the disclosure must be plain and readily understandable by the general public. “Nothing should be hidden. Nothing should be a surprise,” said Brit Vitalius, president of the Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine. While Vitalius said he supports the law, he also says the issue isn’t a widespread problem.”Pretty much all landlords that I talk to and interact with are benefitting from having good relationships with their tenants and being clear,” Vitalius said.Even so, Harkins said she’s hopeful that things will improve with the new law in place.”They have to work with us in order for us to be able to work with them,” Harkins said.Although a new law is in place, Kessler said there is still progress to be made when it comes to the cost of housing, but that he’ll take the incremental progress so far.