Landlord-Tenant Laws News
The latest legal news and analysis on landlord-tenant laws.
27 articles
Progress Residential $49.75M FTC Settlement: No Refund Yet
The FTC and 4 states filed a $49.75M settlement with Progress Residential and Pretium on Nov 6, 2026. What it requires, and why no refund claim exists yet.
California Court Voids a $1,000 Lease Cap on a Tenant's Court Costs
A California appeals court held on Nov 2, 2026 that a residential lease cannot cap a prevailing tenant's court costs at $1,000, but left attorney fees capped.
Oklahoma Landlord Settles DOJ Familial Status Case for $52,500
An Oklahoma City landlord will pay $52,500 to settle Fair Housing Act familial-status claims alleging a refusal to rent to a single mother with a three-year-old.
Pennsylvania Act 67 of 2026: Rental Application Fee Rule Takes Effect in 60 Days
Pennsylvania Act 67 of 2026 was signed October 22 and takes effect in 60 days. The $20 cap was struck; the enacted rule ties fees to actual admin costs.
Pennsylvania AG Sues Over Alleged Land Installment Contract Scheme
Pennsylvania's AG alleges two men and seven companies sold homes they did not own under land installment contracts. What the Allegheny County injunction orders.
California Pet Policy Disclosure Law Takes Effect April 1, 2027
California SB 1296 makes landlords give a written pet policy to every rental applicant. Chaptered September 30, 2026, it is not operative until April 1, 2027.
Maryland Rent Payment Credit Reporting Law Took Effect October 1, 2026
Maryland Ch. 772 and Ch. 773 took effect Oct. 1, 2026: landlords owning six or more units must offer tenants positive rent reporting, fee capped at $10 a month.
California AB 2050 Signed: HOA Reserve Funding Floor Starts 2032
Newsom signed AB 2050 on September 29, 2026 as Chapter 796. New Civil Code 5552 makes underfunded California HOAs fund reserves, but not until January 2032.
Florida Fraudulent Entry Law Takes Effect: Felony, 7-Day Notice
Florida's fraudulent entry law (ch. 2026-143) took effect Oct. 1, 2026: s. 817.537 is a third-degree felony and s. 83.56(2)(a) names a noncurable ground.
California AB 2025: Disclosing Altered Rental Listing Photos
California AB 2025 adds Civil Code 1940.11, requiring disclosure when a rental listing photo is digitally altered. Status, text and the 2027 start date.
Seattle Bans Pet Rent and Package Fees: What Takes Effect in 2027
Seattle Ordinance 127497 bans pet rent, package and admin fees and requires all-in rental pricing. It takes effect July 1, 2027 for new and renewed leases only.
Newsom Vetoes Two California HOA Bills: AB 2439, SB 1238
Newsom vetoed California HOA bills AB 2439 and SB 1238 on September 20, 2026. Neither took effect, and the Davis-Stirling Act is unchanged.
Illinois Court Vacates Chicago Eviction Over Unproven Notice
Illinois appeals court vacated a Chicago eviction judgment: the landlord proved neither which notice law governed his 120-day notice nor when the tenancy ended.
KY Appeals Court Revives Tenant's URLTA Retaliation Suit
Kentucky Court of Appeals reverses dismissal of a HUD tenant's retaliation suit, ruling circuit courts have jurisdiction and rent includes HUD's payment.
11th Circuit Voids Notice Before Eviction Deposit Forfeiture
An 11th Circuit panel ruled Aug. 17, 2026 that a Hillsborough County, Fla. clerk's notice before forfeiting a tenant's $3,600 rent deposit violated due process.
Minnesota Eviction Law Changes Take Effect August 1, 2026 Under HF 3809
Two Minnesota eviction law changes took effect August 1, 2026 under HF 3809: expedited hearings for landlord assault and a ban on naming minors as eviction defendants.
Michigan Bars Large Investors From Buying More Single-Family Homes (HB 6074)
Michigan's new Public Act 32 of 2026 (HB 6074), signed July 21, bars large institutional investors that control 100+ single-family homes from buying more, with civil fines up to $25,000 per home.
Ohio Appeals Court Reverses HOA Rental Restriction Ruling Against Six Lot Owners Over Missing Deeds
Ohio's Twelfth District affirmed part and reversed part of an HOA rental-restriction win in Alum Cliff Industries v. Hickory Woods, 2026-Ohio-2756, over deeds missing from the record.
New Jersey FAIR Act Bans Algorithmic Rent-Setting Software
Gov. Sherrill signed New Jersey's FAIR Act (A3497) on July 20, 2026, banning landlords from sharing rent data or using pricing algorithms to coordinate rents. Effective July 2027.
ROAD to Housing Act Becomes Law, Caps Institutional Buyers at 350 Homes
H.R. 6644 became law July 11, 2026 without Trump's signature, barring institutional investors with 350+ homes from buying more single-family homes.
DOJ Files Proposed Settlement With Willow Bridge Over Alleged Rent-Algorithm Collusion
The DOJ filed a proposed consent decree on July 6, 2026 with landlord Willow Bridge in the RealPage rent-algorithm antitrust case. The settlement still needs court approval.
Massachusetts High Court Strikes Rent-Control Question From the 2026 Ballot
The Massachusetts SJC unanimously disqualified the 2026 rent-control ballot question in Cella v. Attorney General because it exempted religious properties, an excluded matter under art. 48. The 1994 rent-control ban stays in force.
Georgia's New HOA Law Limits When Associations Can Bill Owners for Attorney Fees (SB 406 Takes Partial Effect July 1)
Georgia SB 406, the Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act, takes partial effect July 1, 2026. Section 7 bars HOAs from recovering attorney's fees without notice, itemization, and a court's reasonableness review.
Indiana HEA 1210: HOA Rental Votes Go Homestead-Only and Cities Lose Rental Caps on July 1, 2026
Indiana HEA 1210 takes effect July 1, 2026, limiting HOA rental votes to homestead owners and barring cities from capping residential rentals statewide.