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Landlord Accountability Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-206| House 
| Updated: 1/3/2025
Nydia M. Velázquez

Nydia M. Velázquez

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (1)
Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Landlord Accountability Act of 2025 aims to strengthen tenant protections and promote fair housing by amending the Fair Housing Act. Its central provision prohibits discrimination based on "source of income," expanding protected classes to ensure individuals are not denied housing due to how they pay rent. This broad definition of "source of income" includes the use of federal, state, or local housing assistance, such as Section 8 vouchers, as well as income from Social Security, court orders, trusts, and savings. To enhance landlord accountability, the bill introduces significant penalties for certain actions. Owners who intentionally render dwelling units substandard to disqualify them from federal housing assistance programs face a $100,000 civil money penalty per violation, along with liability to tenants for damages. Additionally, owners of multifamily housing projects who intentionally leave HUD-qualifying units vacant for more than 60 days will incur a $100,000 civil money penalty for every 30 days the unit remains vacant. The legislation mandates the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to improve its complaint resolution mechanisms. This includes increasing staffing for the Multifamily Housing Complaint Line and establishing a new Multifamily Housing Complaint Resolution Program specifically for voucher users and local officials. HUD will also be required to publicly disclose information about these complaints on its website, including the nature, date, disposition, and identifying details of the housing project. To encourage property maintenance, the bill creates a new Low-Income Housing Maintenance Credit , a tax incentive for landlords who own eligible low-income housing projects and promptly address tenant complaints. Furthermore, it requires owners of HUD-assisted multifamily housing to publicly display notices detailing tenants' federal rights and contact information for complaint lines. The bill also authorizes $25 million annually for grants to support tenant harassment prevention programs, offering legal assistance, counseling, and education to protect tenants.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-232
Landlord Accountability Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6556
Landlord Accountability Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1431
Landlord Accountability Act of 2023
Jan 3, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-232
    Landlord Accountability Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6556
    Landlord Accountability Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1431
    Landlord Accountability Act of 2023


  • January 3, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 3, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Housing and Community Development

Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightDepartment of Housing and Urban DevelopmentEmployee hiringGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesHousing discriminationIncome tax creditsIntergovernmental relationsLandlord and tenantLow- and moderate-income housingResidential rehabilitation and home repair

Landlord Accountability Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-206| House 
| Updated: 1/3/2025
The Landlord Accountability Act of 2025 aims to strengthen tenant protections and promote fair housing by amending the Fair Housing Act. Its central provision prohibits discrimination based on "source of income," expanding protected classes to ensure individuals are not denied housing due to how they pay rent. This broad definition of "source of income" includes the use of federal, state, or local housing assistance, such as Section 8 vouchers, as well as income from Social Security, court orders, trusts, and savings. To enhance landlord accountability, the bill introduces significant penalties for certain actions. Owners who intentionally render dwelling units substandard to disqualify them from federal housing assistance programs face a $100,000 civil money penalty per violation, along with liability to tenants for damages. Additionally, owners of multifamily housing projects who intentionally leave HUD-qualifying units vacant for more than 60 days will incur a $100,000 civil money penalty for every 30 days the unit remains vacant. The legislation mandates the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to improve its complaint resolution mechanisms. This includes increasing staffing for the Multifamily Housing Complaint Line and establishing a new Multifamily Housing Complaint Resolution Program specifically for voucher users and local officials. HUD will also be required to publicly disclose information about these complaints on its website, including the nature, date, disposition, and identifying details of the housing project. To encourage property maintenance, the bill creates a new Low-Income Housing Maintenance Credit , a tax incentive for landlords who own eligible low-income housing projects and promptly address tenant complaints. Furthermore, it requires owners of HUD-assisted multifamily housing to publicly display notices detailing tenants' federal rights and contact information for complaint lines. The bill also authorizes $25 million annually for grants to support tenant harassment prevention programs, offering legal assistance, counseling, and education to protect tenants.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-232
Landlord Accountability Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6556
Landlord Accountability Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1431
Landlord Accountability Act of 2023
Jan 3, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-232
    Landlord Accountability Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6556
    Landlord Accountability Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1431
    Landlord Accountability Act of 2023


  • January 3, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 3, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nydia M. Velázquez

Nydia M. Velázquez

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (1)
Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee

Housing and Community Development

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightDepartment of Housing and Urban DevelopmentEmployee hiringGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesHousing discriminationIncome tax creditsIntergovernmental relationsLandlord and tenantLow- and moderate-income housingResidential rehabilitation and home repair