HF4887

Purpose

This bill creates a new option for tenants to end a residential lease if they experience a loss or reduction in income, and it sets rules for how that termination can happen and what obligations remain.

What the bill would do

• Allow a residential tenant or their authorized representative to terminate the lease before the end date if the tenant loses income or has a reduced income that makes paying rent impossible.
• Require specific notice and documentation to support the termination.
• Make clear how rent and other charges are handled after termination and prohibit waivers that would weaken these rights.

Key definitions

• Income: includes salary, wages, tips, commissions, and professional fees.
• Qualifying document: documentation either from the tenant’s employer showing termination or reduction in employment income, or documentation of loss or reduction of income from another source; if those are unavailable, a signed statement from the tenant describing the income loss, why documentation isn’t available, and attesting that the statement is true.
• Tenant: the residential renter or their authorized representative.

How termination works (process and requirements)

• Eligibility: The tenant must have lost income or had a reduction in income that prevents paying rent.
• Written notice: The tenant must give the landlord a written notice at least 14 days before the proposed termination date.
• Qualifying document: The notice must include a qualifying document (as defined above).
• Delivery method: The notice and qualifying document can be delivered by mail, in person, or by the same type of written communication the tenant regularly uses with the landlord.
• Effect: If these requirements are met, the lease ends on the date stated in the notice.

Rent liability and dates

• Rent liability: Terminating the lease does not excuse the tenant from paying rent or other amounts owed before the termination date, including during the notice period.
• No retroactive relief: The tenant remains responsible for amounts due prior to termination.

Waivers and public policy

• Prohibition on waivers: Any agreement that tries to waive these rights, or to require a longer notice period than provided, is against public policy and is void and unenforceable.

Significant changes to current law

• Introduces a formal right for tenants to terminate a lease due to loss or reduction of income, with a defined process, documentation requirements, and a specific 14-day notice, which did not previously exist in this form.
• Establishes defined terms (income and qualifying document) and ties termination to those definitions.
• Adds clear protection against waivers that would restrict this new right.

Relevant Terms - landlord - tenant - residential lease - terminate lease - loss of income - reduction in income - income - qualifying document - employer - employee termination - authorized representative - notice - 14 days - delivery by mail/in person/other written communication - liability for rent - sums owed - waiver - public policy