HB 4926

Abstract

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Prohibits a landlord from charging a prospective tenant an application screening fee if the prospective tenant provides a reusable tenant screening report that meets the following criteria: (i) the report was prepared within the previous 30 days by a consumer credit reporting agency at the request and expense of a prospective tenant; (ii) the report is made directly available to a landlord for use in the rental application process or is provided through a third-party website that regularly engages in the business of providing a reusable tenant screening report and complies with all state and federal laws pertaining to use and disclosure of information contained in a consumer report by a consumer credit reporting agency; and (iii) the report is available to the landlord at no cost to access or use. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 In the definition of "reusable tenant screening report", adds that it is a written report prepared by a consumer credit reporting agency. Provides that the report shall include a verification of the source of income of the prospective tenant. Provides that the report shall include all of the criteria consistently being used by the landlord in the screening of prospective tenants. Provides that nothing in the new provisions prohibits a landlord from collecting and processing an application in addition to the report provided, as long as the prospective tenant is not charged an application screening fee for this additional report.