The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA) regulates the creation of residential tenancies and the relationship between landlords and tenants of residential dwelling units. The RLTA establishes rights and duties of both tenants and landlords, procedures for the parties to enforce their rights, and remedies for violations of the RLTA. Under the RLTA, a rental agreement may not include provisions in which the tenant, for example:
Under the RLTA, a landlord may refuse to accept cash for any payment of rent made by a tenant, but must provide a receipt for any payment made by a tenant in the form of cash when the landlord accepts cash. A landlord must also provide, upon the request of a tenant, a written receipt for any payments made by the tenant in a form other than cash.
A landlord must accept a personal check, cashier's check, or money order for any payment of rent made by a tenant. A landlord may not include in the rental agreement a provision in which the tenant agrees to make rent payments through electronic means only.
PRO: The bill will help renters stay in housing, remove barriers to other housing, and provide time for renters to receive rental assistance. It does not change or prohibit the use of electronic portals or systems by landlords to accept rent payments through an agreement with the tenant. Some senior citizens prefer paying rent with personal checks. Implementing electronic rent payment systems often comes with unregulated fees, which can be a hardship for low-income households who are unbanked or have poor internet access. There are also risks if the electronic rent payment system does not work or is hacked, potentially exposing the personal or financial information of tenants. It is critical to ensure a variety of options for tenants to pay rent. The bill should be expanded to include tenants in manufactured housing communities. Having a bank account is a privilege that is not accessible to all persons. People should have equal access to any means to pay rent and other bills.