H.F. No. 1790 Summary

• Allows residential tenants to terminate leases with at least 14 days' written notice effective on the last day of a calendar month if they have lost income and can no longer pay rent, with lease provisions requiring longer notice periods deemed void and unenforceable.

• Establishes that landlords must make reasonable efforts to rent abandoned dwelling units at fair rental value, with rent liability capped at the statutory notice period if the landlord fails to do so or accepts the abandonment.

• Prohibits landlords from imposing penalties or terminating leases based on conduct of tenants, household members, or guests occurring off-premises or outside common areas, preempting inconsistent local ordinances.

• Modifies landlord liability standards to hold landlords subject to liability for physical harm caused by covenant violations on premises if the violation creates an unreasonable risk and the landlord fails to exercise reasonable care.

• Expands tenant eligibility for attorney fees in lease disputes to match landlord recovery rights, allowing tenants to recover fees when prevailing or entitled to costs under the same circumstances and extent specified in the lease.

• Repeals the state rent control prohibition statute, allowing municipalities to adopt rent control ordinances subject to voter approval in general elections.