ID H0626

Adds Section 6-321A to establish that owners or property managers may charge rental application fees to the first applicant only if a unit is available and they disclose all evaluation criteria in advance, including criminal history, credit score, income, employment, and rental history requirements.

Allows application fees to be charged to multiple prospective tenants only in two scenarios: for first-in-line backup offers if the primary application is rejected, or for applicants on a written waiting list for anticipated future vacancies (limited to first or second in line).

Requires landlords to process only 2 background checks at a time for an available rental unit and mandates comparison of applicants only to pre-existing rental criteria, never to other prospective renters.

Amends Section 6-320 to allow both tenants and applicants to file actions for damages and specific performance against landlords or property managers for violations of rental application fee restrictions, with the same notice and cure requirements as other tenant remedies.

Declares the act an emergency measure effective July 1, 2022.