House Bill 525 Summary

• Adds definition of "last known e-mail address" to self-service storage facility law and allows operators to send rental agreements and notices to lessees via e-mail or postal service at their last known address or e-mail address.

• Requires rental agreements to include conspicuous statements about late fees, specifying that a late fee of $20.00 or 20% of monthly rent (whichever is greater) is presumed reasonable and not a penalty, plus allowable collection and lien enforcement expenses.

• Establishes that if a rental agreement limits the value of stored property, that limit is presumed to be the maximum value, and clarifies that operators have no liability to lessees for loss or damage to stored property.

• Reduces the default period required before lien enforcement action from 60 days to 45 days and allows lien sales to be conducted at the storage facility or "nearest suitable location," including publicly accessible websites offering auctions.

• Authorizes operators to have vehicles towed by an independent company if a lessee is in default for 45 or more days, requiring at least 10 days' notice to the lessee at their last known address or e-mail address.