House Bill No. introduced by various legislators aims to revise residential tenant security deposit laws in Montana to enhance tenant rights regarding cleaning responsibilities. The bill amends Section 70-25-201 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to require landlords to provide tenants with an itemized list of cleaning tasks that were not completed, along with cost estimates for any necessary cleaning. Additionally, it extends the time tenants have to complete required cleaning from 24 hours to 48 hours after receiving such notice, unless the rental agreement has already been terminated.

Furthermore, the bill prohibits landlords from charging inspection fees for assessing the cleaning completed by tenants during the specified 48-hour period. It also clarifies that landlords can only deduct amounts from the security deposit for specific reasons outlined in the law, ensuring that tenants are better informed and have more time to address cleaning issues before any deductions are made.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 70-25-201
HB0304_1(1): 70-25-201
HB0304_1(2): 70-25-201
HB0304_1(3): 70-25-201
HB0304_1(4): 70-25-201
HB0304_1(5): 70-25-201
HB0304_1: 70-25-201