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House Judiciary hears bid to require refunds of unused rental application fees
Summary
House Bill 311 would require landlords or managers to refund portions of rental application fees not used to provide specified services; the hearing split proponents (students, housing advocates, tribes) who described rent-market burdens and opponents (landlord associations, property managers) who warned of screening costs and unintended consequences.
Representative Kelly Kortum opened House Bill 311 by saying many Montanans pay rental application fees yet do not get the rental and that "this must end." Kortum described the bill as allowing landlords or managers to retain only specified costs tied to services actually performed and requiring refund of the remainder.
Proponents included student and housing-advocacy groups and tribal representatives who said nonrefundable application fees impose a heavy burden on students, low-income renters and Native…
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