Residential Landlord Application Screening Fee

With respect to an application screening fee that a landlord may charge a prospective tenant, the bill:

• Limits the fee to cover the landlord's actual costs;
• Requires the landlord to provide any person who has paid the fee with either a disclosure of the landlord's anticipated expenses for which the fee will be used or a receipt that itemizes the landlord's actual expenses incurred. The landlord may provide the person with an electronic receipt, unless the person requests a paper receipt.
• Requires the landlord to return any amount of the fee that is not used as authorized by law; and
• Establishes a penalty for a landlord that does not comply with the requirements related to the fee.
  (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)