Landlords would notify tenants before listing some homes with unexpired written leases

Landlords would notify tenants before listing a residential rental with an unexpired written lease; buyers could end that lease with notice and payment. This covers residential rental property with an unexpired written lease. The seller's notice rule has exceptions for an agreed early lease ending, a lease ending within 60 days, a tenant's lease violation, a sale due to the owner's death, and multifamily property with more than four units. A buyer ending the lease would pay one month's rent plus the full security deposit. The seller would give written notice at least 60 days before listing. A buyer ending the lease would give written notice at least 30 days before it ends.

Landlords would repair or replace a system that stops a tenant's essential services within 48 hours of notice. This covers a rental unit that loses an essential service because a system breaks or the landlord fails to keep it in safe working order. The deadline would not apply if the tenant's damaging misuse directly caused the failure, or if the landlord tried in good faith within 48 hours but could not begin or finish the work. The rule would allow service shutoffs as needed for an emergency, good-faith repairs, or construction. It would not require the landlord to pay for a service unless the rental agreement says so. The 48 hours would begin when the tenant notifies the landlord.

A court could direct a tenant's ongoing rent payments into a held account while the tenant's case is pending. This applies when a tenant stays in the rental unit while suing to enforce a landlord's rental duties. The money could be released only by court order. A winning tenant would receive a court-set refund; if the tenant loses, the held money would go to the landlord as rent. The court could reduce a tenant's refund if the tenant contributed to the repair problem, or the landlord's share if the landlord failed a duty under this chapter and that failure contributed to the problem. This would apply to cases filed after June 30, 2026, while the case is pending.

A court would start by presuming retaliation when a tenant's protected action happened within six months before alleged landlord retaliation. This concerns tenants taking actions protected by rental rules for victims of certain crimes. The presumption would not apply if the tenant acted after the landlord gave notice of certain rent, lease, or tenancy changes. The landlord could overcome it by showing a sufficient reason and that it would have acted the same way at the same time anyway. The tenant's protected action must occur no more than six months before the alleged retaliation.

Landlords would pay local fines for breaking rental property duties and complete repairs required by local government. This covers rental property for which a local government has imposed fines or required repairs. The fines must be for violations of the landlord's duties under the rental property law. Required repairs must be finished before the home is given to a tenant. If enacted, this rule would take effect July 1, 2026.