CS/CS/HB 921 - Landlords and Tenants

• Right to attorney fees in landlord-tenant disputes cannot be waived in lease agreements, but attorney fees may not be awarded in personal injury claims based on breach of premises maintenance duty.

• Landlords must disclose security deposit and advance rent handling within 30 days of receipt or in the lease agreement, including depository information, interest rates, and a detailed tenant rights disclosure.

• Landlord accepting partial rent does not waive the right to terminate a rental agreement or bring civil action for noncompliance, except for rent subsidy portions where action must be instituted within 45 days of actual knowledge.

• Landlords must be given opportunity to cure deficiencies in eviction notices or pleadings before dismissal, and weekends and holidays do not extend notice periods for possession restoration.

• Retaliation protections expanded to include additional examples: tenant paying condominium/homeowners association dues and tenant exercising fair housing rights; applies to mobile home park owners as well.