The bill amends the Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code to establish a formal process for tenants to withhold rent in response to housing code violations. It allows tenants to deposit rent into an escrow account upon the issuance of a second notice of violation by an enforcing officer from a state or local minimum housing code enforcement agency. The amount deposited shall be equal to the rent the tenant may be due as an abatement for the landlord's failure to correct the alleged violations in a timely manner.

Additionally, the bill imposes a duty on landlords to notify tenants of any housing code violations and requires them to inform tenants of any violations cited by enforcement agencies within thirty days. It also allows tenants to use the landlord's noncompliance with housing codes as a defense in actions for possession or rent under the rental agreement or the Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
906: 45-24.3-17