Enhanced Tenant Rights: Withholding Rent and Enforcing Repairs in Assisted Housing.
This Act significantly empowers residents of federally assisted housing to demand better living conditions and maintenance. It allows tenants to withhold their rent portion into an escrow fund if serious housing violations are not fixed, and grants them the right to make repairs and deduct the cost. The law also increases transparency by giving tenants access to inspection reports and property financial information, and allows them to seek judicial relief if federal agencies fail to act on complaints.
Key points
Tenants in assisted housing can withhold their rent contribution into an escrow fund if serious housing quality violations are not corrected by the owner.
Owners are prohibited from evicting tenants for exercising the right to withhold rent or for making necessary repairs and deducting the cost from their rent payment.
Tenant organizations gain the right to request inspections, access property financial and inspection records, and accompany inspectors during common area reviews.
If federal agencies (HUD/USDA) fail to act on serious violation complaints within a set timeframe, tenants can seek enforcement of the owner's agreements with the government through the courts.
Expired
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