Pay through the nose

[ratóncolorao]

Can you please help me with this sentence?

A slum landlord who forces young people to pay through the nose and under the table for a one-room apartment with shared toilet should be hung out to dry.

I imagine what it means but could you give me some other expression.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Barb_D]

Pay through the nose -- pay a lot of money, pay a high price for something.

Under the table -- without declaring the money, so there is no record of the payment. Usually you refer to working "under the table" so you don't have to pay income tax. From this context, it appears the landlord doesn't declare (on his income/tax statements) the money he receives.