Summary

Creates new federal protections and enforcement for renters using rental-assistance vouchers and other income sources, strengthens Fair Housing Act definitions to explicitly include vouchers and many forms of income, and gives HUD broad authority to implement complaint-resolution and public reporting for multifamily voucher-related complaints. It also imposes civil penalties on owners who intentionally let units fall into disrepair or keep HUD-eligible units vacant, requires tenant-rights notices in multifamily buildings, funds grants for tenant-harassment prevention programs, and adds a temporary tax credit for landlords who maintain low-income voucher units and promptly remedy complaints.

Key Points

• Expands the Fair Housing Act's "source of income" to explicitly include Section 8 vouchers and many other income sources.
• Creates large civil penalties ($100,000 per action) and a tenant private right of action ($50,000 per action) for owners who intentionally allow units to become uninhabitable.
• Imposes fines ($100,000 per 30 days) for intentionally keeping HUD-eligible multifamily units vacant beyond a 60-day trigger.
• Requires HUD to expand complaint-line staffing, create a complaint-resolution program, and publish complaint details and annual summaries.
• Requires tenant-rights notices in multifamily buildings, with model notices from HUD and penalties for noncompliance.
• Authorizes dedicated funding for fair housing enforcement, a national media campaign, and $25M/year in grants for tenant-harassment prevention.
• Establishes a temporary Low-Income Housing Maintenance Tax Credit for landlords who promptly remedy complaints or have no complaints, with per-unit/project/taxpayer caps.
• Gives HUD broad rulemaking authority and sets multiple regulatory and implementation deadlines (60–365 days; 12 months for program rules).
• Includes transitional certification rules for agencies and aggregation rules for the tax credit; the tax credit is effective 2026–2035.

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