Landlords would disclose rental terms and limit late fees

Landlords would have to give prospective tenants written rental and screening information before taking an application fee or other payment. The disclosure would cover estimated rent, fixed and use-based non-rent costs, the scheduled availability date, and screening criteria, including criminal, credit, income, employment, and rental history.

Landlords could charge late fees only within the bill's stated limits. These limits apply to fees for late payment of rent under a rental agreement. The fee must be reasonable and allowed by the rental agreement. A late fee could not exceed 5% of periodic rent or increase based on an earlier late fee. The tenant must be allowed at least five days after rent is due to pay before a late fee is charged.

A landlord who violates either rule would have to release the tenant or prospective tenant from a signed rental agreement without penalty. These remedies would apply to a tenant or prospective tenant whose landlord violated the late-fee or disclosure rule. For a disclosure violation, the landlord would also have to return money paid for the dwelling and pay an additional penalty equal to the total amount paid for it.