Relating to rental agreements and early termination rights of tenants who are victims of certain crimes

This bill allows a victim of certain crimes to terminate a rental agreement early. The bill allows a tenant to terminate a rental agreement without penalty or liability if the tenant provides written notification to the landlord that a tenant or household member is a victim of an act of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, elder abuse, or other crime that poses a substantial threat of personal injury or death and is punishable as a felony or misdemeanor. The bill provides that the written notice provided to the landlord shall contain one of the following documents: a copy of a protective order, a copy of a written report by a peace officer stating that a tenant or household member is a victim of an act or crime, documentation from a qualified third party based on information received by a licensed health care services provider, licensed mental health care provider, or a victim counselor that a tenant or household member is seeking assistance for abuse or physical or mental injuries resulting from an act or crime, or any other form of documentation that reasonably certifies that the act or crime occurred. Written notice provided to a landlord to terminate a lease agreement must contain the date the lease will terminate and the names of household members to be released in addition to the tenant. The bill provides that a tenant who terminates a rental agreement pursuant to the bill shall remain liable for rent for the month in which the tenant terminated the rental agreement and any prorated days of rent through the date of termination stated in the notice. If the premises are rented to another party prior to the end of the obligation to pay rent, the rent shall be prorated. The bill provides protections for a tenant who terminates a rental agreement under the bill. A tenant is not liable for rent or damages to premises incurred after the lease termination date, and is not subject to a negative credit reference, a negative character reference, or any fee or penalty solely because of termination of the rental agreement. A tenant shall not be required to forfeit any security deposit money or advance rent paid due to that termination. A tenant who terminates a rental agreement pursuant to the bill shall not be considered for any purpose, by reason of the termination, to have breached the lease or rental agreement. The bill provides for victim confidentiality by the landlord. A landlord shall not disclose to a third party any information provided to the landlord by a tenant, unless the tenant consents in writing or the disclosure is required by law or order of the court. A landlord’s communication to a qualified third party who provides documentation to verify the contents of that documentation is not considered disclosure. The bill provides that a landlord is not allowed to discriminate against a prospective tenant based solely upon the prospective tenant having previously terminated a tenancy because of circumstance provided in the bill.