Bill: HB 1009, 84(R) - 2015

Committee

House Business & Industry

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Neutral Neutral Positive Neutral Negative Neutral

Author(s)

Yvonne Davis

Bill Caption

Relating to application fees and deposits paid to a landlord of residential rental property.

Fiscal Notes

The Office of the Attorney General indicated the costs associated with implementation of the bill could be absorbed with existing resources. 

Bill Analysis

HB 1009 would entitle a rental applicant to the refund of a deposit if the applicant is rejected as a tenant or withdraws the application before the application has been processed but authorizes a landlord to retain the deposit if the applicant gives false information on the rental application. 

HB 1009 would require the landlord, if the landlord rejects an applicant, to return any deposit not later than the fifth day after the date the application is rejected. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

HB 1009 would protect the financial property rights of apartment applicants by entitling them to a refund of their deposit. This would help those in financial distress at least recover the few hundred dollars from the deposit after being denied through the application process. If the deposit was unjustifiably kept by the property manager, then that money should be returned to the applicant. But because this bill expands the reach of government into the private sector, it goes against our limited government principle. Because of this conflict we remain neutral.

Source URL (retrieved on 03/28/2024 12:03 PM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/84r/hb1009?print_view=true