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Committee considers refunding unused rental application fees amid competing landlord and tenant concerns
Summary
A bill to require refunds of unused rental application fees drew support from students, housing advocates and tribal representatives and opposition from local landlords and landlord associations at a House Judiciary Committee hearing.
Representative Kelly Kortum opened the hearing on House Bill 311 by saying the bill would require landlords and property managers to refund a portion of rental application fees when applicants are not awarded a unit. Kortum described instances where property managers collected dozens of application fees but leased a unit to only one applicant.
Supporters, including student and housing advocates, said the practice is predatory in tight rental markets. Hope Morrison, representing the Associated Students of the University of Montana, said she paid about $200 in nonrefundable application fees while searching for housing and urged the committee to pass the bill to ease the burden on students. Advocates for domestic‑violence survivors and tribal…
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