Bill > H1275

This bill amends existing law concerning rent escrowing, which is the process of a tenant paying rent to a court or a neutral third party instead of directly to the landlord, often during a dispute. Specifically, it mandates that tenants must deposit all rent due prior to the final resolution of a landlord's legal action to vacate, and clarifies that this requirement applies when a tenant has received written notice from the landlord. The bill also allows for rent to be applied in this escrow manner when a tenant is otherwise applying rent under a different section of law related to health code violations, and it changes the word "may" to "shall" in certain provisions, making these actions mandatory rather than optional for the court. Furthermore, it modifies how rent deposits are handled, specifying that the landlord will be paid from the deposit and removing language that allowed courts to direct tenants to make deposits in installments or for use and occupation of the premises.