House Bill 241 Summary

• Defines "housing agreement advisor" as any person assisting a buyer or tenant during property viewings, inspections, negotiations, or other interactions with sellers or landlords, including real estate agents, contractors, inspectors, friends, or family members.

• Requires sellers to include bold-text confirmation in residential property contracts stating buyers were notified of their right to have at least one housing agreement advisor present at all stages of the property transfer process.

• Requires landlords owning two or more rental units to provide prospective tenants written notice of their right to be accompanied by at least one housing agreement advisor during viewings, negotiations, and rental agreement signing, with a link to the DSHA website listing advisor organizations.

• Establishes civil penalties of $100 for first offenses and $1,000 for subsequent offenses against landlords or their agents who fail to provide required notice or deny tenants the right to have advisors present.

• Directs Delaware State Housing Authority to maintain a website list of organizations providing housing agreement advisors and requires counties and municipalities to notify rental property owners of their obligations regarding housing agreement advisors when issuing permits or licenses.