84th Recap: Landlord Liability Removed for Leases to Persons with Certain Criminal Records

A bill passed this session that lowers the liability for a landlord who leases to persons with certain types of criminal records. HB 1510 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D) now waits on the governor's desk. The bill removes as a cause of action against a landlord if they choose to lease to a person who is convicted, arrested or placed on deferred adjudication. However, the bill clarifies that a negligence cause of action can still be brought against a landlord if the tenant was convicted of serious crimes such as murder, indecency with a child, aggravated robbery, sexual assault, burglary and other serious crimes. The bill focuses on lower level nonviolent offenses.

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