HF2816 Summary

• Landlords of single-metered residential buildings must be the bill payer for utility services and may not bill tenants separately unless they either install submeters meeting industry standards or establish an equitable apportionment method predetermined in writing for all leases.

• Landlords billing tenants separately for utilities must provide prospective tenants with 12 months of actual utility costs, install compliant submeters, establish equitable apportionment methods, provide copies of utility bills upon request, and offer annualized budget payment plans with no additional charges.

• Tenants or groups of tenants may pay to continue disconnected utility services by providing 48 hours' notice to the landlord; for water service, tenants may pay current charges and retain service without deposit requirements.

• Tenants may terminate leases early if certified by a physician as unable to live independently without assistance and needing to move to a nursing home, hospice care, boarding care facility, housing with services, assisted living, or other licensed residential care with two months' written notice and one month's rent payment.

• Landlords must provide tenants seven days' notice and opportunity to cure before eviction for nonpayment; tenants may cure twice per 12-month period and may redeem more than twice by paying the landlord's actual reasonable attorney fees.