Idaho State Capitol – On Friday, House Judiciary and Rules sent Representative Melissa Wintrow’s/(D-Boise) Landlord and Tenant Rights bill to the House floor with strong support. The legislation would establish reasonable limits on fees and assessments to ensure housing is available for all Idahoans. Under the proposed legislation, prior to the refund of any security deposit, a landlord will be required to give their tenant an itemized invoice for any repair or cleaning service above normal wear and tear.
“The aim of this legislation is to increase the transparency between private property owners and tenants.” Rep. Wintrow explained. “Many of my constituents have expressed concern that they are not receiving a fair amount of their security deposit back when they are moving out of rentals. This bill would require that a landlord give a tenant an itemized invoice for any charges prior to the refund of any security deposit so that the landlord and tenant are clear on what the tenant is being charged and why. A tenant can request a walkthrough when they first move in and when they move out so that they can see what they are being charged for. Given the ongoing lack of affordable housing, we should be removing financial barriers that prevent Idahoans from getting into a rental.”
“We want to discourage disputes between landlords and tenants.” Rep. Wintrow went on to say. “By encouraging transparency about charges, we can reduce misunderstanding that can sometimes lead to litigation. If a tenant has caused serious damage to a rental, then they will be able to see what they are paying for. If a tenant has taken good care of their rental, then the landlord should have no problem returning the tenant’s security deposit.”