Landlord Accountability Act of 2025
Landlord Accountability Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Landlord Accountability Act of 2025 – Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Does:** The Landlord Accountability Act would make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against renters based on where their income comes from. Specifically, landlords couldn't refuse to rent to someone because they receive housing vouchers, rental assistance, Social Security, disability benefits, or child support. The bill also aims to prevent landlords from deliberately making rental units ineligible for federal housing assistance programs. Landlords who violate these rules could face penalties and be sued by tenants who were harmed. **Who It Affects:** This bill primarily affects low-income renters who rely on government assistance to afford housing, as well as landlords who manage rental properties.
It also involves the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and includes a tax credit incentive for landlords who maintain affordable housing units. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee as of the 119th Congress, meaning it hasn't yet been voted on by the full House. It was introduced by Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY). The bill would need to pass committee review, be approved by the House, pass the Senate, and be signed by the President to become law.
CRS Official Summary
Landlord Accountability Act of 2025This bill prohibits housing discrimination based on income, provides protections to tenants of certain federally assisted housing, and establishes a low-income housing maintenance tax credit for eligible landlords.Specifically, the bill prohibits discrimination in rental housing and residential real estate transactions based on an individual's source of income and provides for penalties. Protected income sources includehousing vouchers and rental assistance,rental and homeownership subsidies,Social Security and disability income assistance, andspousal and child support.Additionally, landlords are prohibited from taking or failing to take certain actions with the intent to make a unit ineligible to receive Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assistance. Landlords that violate this prohibition are subject to penalties and may be sued by harmed tenants. The bill further prohibits property owners of certain multifamily housing projects from intentionally leaving a unit vacant for more than 60 days. Property owners that violate this prohibition are subject to penalties.The bill also provides protections to tenants of multifamily housing projects, which includes requiring HUD to increase the staffing level for the Multifamily Housing Complaint Line and create a Multifamily Housing Complaint Resolution Program.In addition, HUD may provide grants to develop, expand, and assist tenant harassment prevention programs.Finally, the bill establishes a tax credit for qualifying landlords that is equal to the landlord's annual low-income housing maintenance expenses. To qualify, a landlord must have addressed within 30 days any relevant complaints filed under the complaint resolution program.
Latest Action
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.