HB 1124 Protecting Tenants From Excessive Rent And Related Fees By Providing At Least Six Months'...

HB 1124

Protecting tenants from excessive rent and related fees by providing at least six months' notice for rent increases over a certain amount, allowing tenants the right to terminate a tenancy without penalty, and limiting late fees.

A landlord may not increase a tenant's rent by more than 5 percent without providing written notice between 180 and 220 days before the increase takes effect.  The notice must inform the tenant of the tenant's ability to terminate the tenancy without penalty.  A tenant who receives notice of a rent increase of more than 5 percent may terminate the tenancy at any point prior to the effective date of the increase by providing at least 20 days' notice for a month to-month or at least 45 days' notice for a tenancy with a lease, and the landlord must prorate the rent owed to the tenant's move-out date.

A tenant who is charged and pays rent reflecting an increase of more than 5 percent without receiving the required written notice may recover actual damages in the amount of the excess rent paid and treble damages, costs, and reasonable attorneys' fees.

A landlord may not charge a tenant a fee for late payment of rent that exceeds $75 total. 

Bill History

• Jan 4 Prefiled for introduction.
• Jan 9 First reading, referred to Housing. (View Original Bill)h
• Jan 12 Public hearing in the House Committee on Housing at 8:00 AM. (Committee Materials)
• Jan 26 Executive action taken in the House Committee on Housing at 8:00 AM. (Committee Materials)
  HOUS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (View 1st Substitute) (Majority Report)
  Minority; do not pass. (Minority Report)
• Jan 30 Referred to Rules 2 Review.

Sponsors

Peterson, Fitzgibbon, Taylor, Street, Berry, Bateman, Ramel, Doglio, Macri, Simmons, Chopp, Lekanoff,
Thai, Bergquist, Stonier, Pollet, Riccelli, Ormsby

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