Tenants Bill of Rights passed by St. Pete City council on 11/7/19
Community Law Program, along with other community members and organizations, advocated for the Tenants Bill of Rights passed by the City Council on 11/7/19.
Staff Attorney, Patrick Hogan, elaborates:
“St. Petersburg City Council passes Tenant Bill of Rights. New ordinance would be effective February 8, 2020.
A new ordinance would make it unlawful for a landlord to assess a late fee against a tenant without first providing written notice to the tenant(s), against whom the late fee is assessed, for each late fee assessed. Any such written notice shall be separate from any notice requirements provided for in a tenant’s rental agreement and shall be required each time a new late fee is assessed. Only one notice shall be required if the same late fee continues to accrue after delivery of the notice.
Though reasonable late fees may be an important aspect of rental agreements, the City Council deemed it essential that tenants understand and know when they incur these fees as the imposition of late fees may also impact when a Tenant may be evicted.
For purposes of the new ordinance only, discriminatory classifications would be expanded to include age, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, or veteran or service member status.”
https://www.tampabay.com/…/with-controversial-language-rem…/