AUGUSTA - Rep. Chris Kessler, D-South Portland, presented LD 691, An Act to Reduce Barriers to Housing by Prohibiting Tenant Application Fees, before the Legislature's Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
The bill would prohibit a landlord from charging prospective tenants a fee as part of the rental application process. In a tight housing market, many renters need to apply to multiple units before landing an apartment, meaning they often must pay numerous application fees, which can build over time and become a considerable financial burden.
"Tenants across Maine are sometimes paying hundreds of dollars in rental application fees with no guarantee of finding an apartment," said Kessler. "Currently, there is no oversight or safeguards in place to prevent property owners or managers from collecting fees from people they have no intention of renting to. This bill will financially protect prospective tenants and ensure they are not paying extra fees to apply for apartments that they will not have a real chance at renting."
Maine is not the first New England state to consider restrictions for rental application fees. Massachusetts has imposed limitations on who can charge rental application fees, while Vermont has banned them entirely.
The bill faces further action in the Judiciary Committee with a work session scheduled for March 30 at 1 p.m.
Kessler, a member of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, is serving his third term in the Maine House and represents part of Cape Elizabeth and part of South Portland.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Kessler], c. 305-965-2744