Consumer Protection for Renters

On April 1, the Montgomery County Council unanimously passed the Consumer Protection for Renters bill (6-25), which AIM advocated for. This bill will enable the County to take landlords to court for repeated housing code violations and deceptive practices toward tenants.

Before this law was passed, certain landlords would repeatedly delay fixing maintenance problems and health issues like mold and pests, and it was very difficult for the county to require them to be fixed. This new law will remove an exception in consumer protection law, so landlords will be held accountable and tenants’ rights will be better enforced.

AIM tenant leaders advocated for this bill and testified for it at the County Council. AIM leader Sergine Yango testified: “We support this Bill 6-25 because it gives our County another tool to address the failures of negligent landlords. It recognizes that renting units is a business where a service is provided and the tenant pays for that service through rent and other fees. And as a consumer of that service, we should be able to benefit from the consumer protection laws. "

The County Council’s press release acknowledged AIM’s role in supporting the bill’s passage. Congratulations, AIM!