1     
RENTAL APPLICATION DISCLOSURE AMENDMENTS

2     
2017 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Bruce R. Cutler

5     
Senate Sponsor: Todd Weiler

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends and enacts provisions related to rental units.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     requires an owner to make certain disclosures to an applicant for a rental unit before
13     the owner accepts a rental application from the applicant; and
14          ▸     prohibits an owner from charging an application fee or accepting a rental deposit
15     from an applicant before the owner makes the required disclosures.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     AMENDS:
22          57-22-2, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1990, Chapter 314
23     ENACTS:
24          57-22-4.2, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25     

26     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27          Section 1. Section 57-22-2 is amended to read:

28          57-22-2. Definitions.
29          As used in this chapter:
30          (1) "Owner" means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of a residential rental unit. A
31     managing agent, leasing agent, or resident manager is considered an owner for purposes of
32     notice and other communication required or allowed under this chapter unless the agent or
33     manager specifies otherwise in writing in the rental agreement.
34          (2) "Rental agreement" means any agreement, written or oral, which establishes or
35     modifies the terms, conditions, rules, or any other provisions regarding the use and occupancy
36     of a residential rental unit.
37          (3) "Rental applicant" means an individual who submits a rental application.
38          (4) "Rental application" means an application required by an owner as a prerequisite to
39     the owner entering into a rental agreement for a residential rental unit.
40          [(3)] (5) "Renter" means any person entitled under a rental agreement to occupy a
41     residential rental unit to the exclusion of others.
42          [(4)] (6) "Residential rental unit" means a renter's principal place of residence and
43     includes the appurtenances, grounds, and facilities held out for the use of the residential renter
44     generally, and any other area or facility provided to the renter in the rental agreement. It does
45     not include facilities contained in a boarding or rooming house or similar facility, mobile home
46     lot, or recreational property rented on an occasional basis.
47          Section 2. Section 57-22-4.2 is enacted to read:
48          57-22-4.2. Owner disclosure before accepting a rental application --- Owner may
49     not charge an application fee or accept a rental deposit before making disclosure.
50          (1) An owner shall disclose to a rental applicant, before the owner accepts a rental
51     application from the rental applicant, any material criteria established by the owner to enter
52     into a rental agreement for the residential rental unit, including:
53          (a) minimum renter financial criteria;
54          (b) any restriction on a renter's use of the unit; and
55          (c) any restriction related to a renter's criminal history.
56          (2) An owner may not charge a rental applicant an application fee, or accept from a
57     rental applicant a rental deposit, before the owner complies with the disclosure requirement
58     described in Subsection (1).







Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel