Bill > S906

This bill aims to promote rental housing stability by making several changes to existing laws. Firstly, it allows landlords to bring an "emergency action" to recover possession of a residential property if significant damage is occurring or likely to occur due to the tenant's continued occupancy, with a hearing required within 14 days. Secondly, it modifies the conditions under which a tenant can withhold rent due to issues with the property's condition or services; tenants must now deposit the withheld rent into an escrow account within 7 days of the rent due date, and certain other requirements must be met, such as the landlord knowing about the issue before rent was late and the tenant not causing the problem. Additionally, the bill changes a provision in the law so that a court "shall" consider certain tenant defenses related to property conditions, rather than "may," and it mandates that rent withheld in escrow be released to the landlord within 21 days after a defect is cured, provided the local board of health certifies the repair.