HR 4100
End Junk Fees for Renters Act
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Bill overview
The End Junk Fees for Renters Act aims to protect renters from various unnecessary fees commonly charged by landlords. Specifically, it prohibits fees for application, tenant screening, and late payments, limiting late fees to no more than 3% of the monthly rent if paid at least 15 days late. The bill also requires landlords to disclose key information about rent, past litigation, and property maintenance to prospective tenants.
Key provisions
- Prohibits fees for rental applications.
- Prohibits fees for tenant screening services.
- Limits late fees to a maximum of 3% of the monthly rent if paid at least 15 days late.
- Requires landlords to disclose total monthly rent, past litigation, and property maintenance issues.
- Mandates disclosure of rent increase history in previous years.
- Defines ‘junk fees’ for the purpose of rental housing.
- Prohibits reporting unpaid junk fees to consumer reporting agencies as an unfair or unconscionable debt collection practice.
- Designates the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and the Federal Trade Commission to issue implementing rules.
Who is affected
- Renters
- Landlords
- Federal Housing Finance Agencies
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Federal Trade Commission
Notable changes
- Prohibits a range of fees previously common in rental agreements.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Becca [D-VT-At Large] Balint
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 4100
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To prohibit owners of covered dwelling units from assessing or collecting certain fees from tenants, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the End Junk Fees for Renters Act
.
to the degree practicable, a summary of any past litigation between the such owner and any former or current tenants;
The term appropriate regulator means—
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, with respect to covered dwelling units described in—
paragraph (2)(A);
paragraph (2)(B), to the extent the Federally backed mortgage loan referred to in such paragraph is described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (3); or
The term covered dwelling unit means a dwelling unit that—
is provided assistance within the jurisdiction of the Department, as such term is defined in section 102(m) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 3545(m)); or
insured by the Federal Housing Administration under title II of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.);
insured under section 255 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z–20);
guaranteed under section 184 or 184A of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–13a, 1715z–13b);
guaranteed or insured by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
guaranteed or insured by the Department of Agriculture;
made by the Department of Agriculture; or
purchased or securitized by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or the Federal National Mortgage Association.
is secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential multifamily real property designed principally for the occupancy of 5 or more families, including any such secured loan, the proceeds of which are used to prepay or pay off an existing loan secured by the same property; and
is made in whole or in part, or insured, guaranteed, supplemented, or assisted in any way, by any officer or agency of the Federal Government or under or in connection with a housing or urban development program administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or a housing or related program administered by any other such officer or agency, or is purchased or securitized by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or the Federal National Mortgage Association.
The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and the Federal Trade Commission shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section issue a rule that—
defines the term junk fee with respect to rental housing; and
finds the furnishing of any information about a unpaid junk fee (as such term is defined pursuant to paragraph (1)) to a consumer reporting agency to be a unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect debt in violation of section 808 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.