Senate Bill No. introduced by M. Dunwell aims to revise tenant move-out laws in Montana by clarifying what constitutes normal wear and establishing limits on charges landlords can impose for cleaning and repairs. The bill defines normal wear to include minor damages such as small nail holes, scuffs, and visible wear in high-traffic areas. It stipulates that landlords cannot charge for their labor beyond the prevailing costs of professional cleaners and prohibits deductions for painting or recarpeting after a tenancy of two or more years. Additionally, if professional cleaning is performed, landlords must provide tenants with a copy of the cleaner's bill.

The bill also revises timelines related to the return of security deposits and the process for addressing wrongful withholding. It reduces the time frame for landlords to provide a list of damages and any deductions from the security deposit from 30 days to 21 days after the end of a tenancy. Furthermore, it clarifies that tenants must be notified of any cleaning charges and allows them 24 hours to address these before deductions can be made. The burden of proof for damages remains with the landlord, and the bill includes provisions for attorney fees to be awarded to the prevailing party in wrongful withholding cases.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 70-25-201, 70-25-202, 70-25-204
SB0126_1(1): 70-25-201, 70-25-202, 70-25-204
SB0126_1(2): 70-25-201, 70-25-202, 70-25-204
SB0126_1(3): 70-25-201, 70-25-202, 70-25-204
SB0126_1(4): 70-25-201, 70-25-202, 70-25-204
SB0126_1(5): 70-25-201, 70-25-202, 70-25-204
SB0126_1(6): 70-25-201, 70-25-202, 70-25-204
SB0126_1: 70-25-201, 70-25-202, 70-25-204