General Assembly Raised Bill No. 257 proposes significant amendments to current eviction laws, focusing on enhancing protections for vulnerable tenants, particularly those aged sixty-two and older, individuals with disabilities, and long-term residents of properties with five or more units or in mobile manufactured home parks. The bill clarifies the definitions of "tenant" and "landlord" and restricts eviction grounds to specific reasons, such as nonpayment of rent, refusal of a fair rent increase, or material noncompliance with rental agreements. It introduces new eviction grounds related to landlords' intentions to use the unit for family members while ensuring that tenants retain protections during their rental agreements.

Additionally, the bill mandates that landlords inform tenants of their rights under the new provisions, requiring a one-page summary of these rights to be available in English and Spanish on the Department of Housing's website by December 1, 2023, with further translations into the five most commonly spoken languages by December 1, 2028. It also establishes new requirements for landlords to verify tenants' protected statuses and modifies eviction conditions to necessitate just cause, including the refusal of fair rent increases or the landlord's intent to occupy the unit. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2026, aiming to ensure fair and transparent eviction processes while strengthening tenant rights.

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