DE SB167

Creates a Landlord Mitigation Fund administered by the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) to provide payment for certain expenses incurred by landlords participating in government-sponsored rental assistance programs.

Fund sources include appropriations from the General Assembly, federal funds (including from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021), and unappropriated amounts deposited by the DSHA from other available sources.

Eligible claims include lost rental income from inspection delays, lost income due to tenant vacancy without notice, property damage reimbursement exceeding security deposits, and reimbursement for improvements required by housing authority inspections.

DSHA has sole discretion to set maximum reimbursement amounts per claim and per tenancy, review claims, inspect properties, and determine payment eligibility on a first-come, first-served basis subject to available funds.

Landlords receiving payment from the fund are prohibited from taking legal action against or collecting judgments from tenants for the same damages, except to the extent they seek amounts exceeding what the fund paid.