Renter Resource Center Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8903
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T16:48:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Renter Resource Center Act (H.R. 8903)
Purpose This legislation directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to create a centralized renter outreach resource—a toll-free telephone number and public website—to help renters of single-family homes owned by large institutional investors report disputes, receive information on responses, and access resolution options for issues involving federal or state law violations or other rental matters.
Key Provisions
- Renter Outreach Resource: Within 180 days of enactment, HUD must establish the resource to allow renters to notify agencies of disputes, share information across federal agencies, monitor cases, and pursue resolution where feasible.
- Response Procedures: HUD must promptly respond in writing to renters who submit information and document those responses, including steps taken, investor replies, and outcomes.
- Federal Investigations: HUD must process and investigate reports of potential federal law violations, sharing relevant details with other agencies and identifying the involved investor.
- State Law Referrals: For potential state law violations, HUD must provide renters with contact information for the appropriate state authority.
- Investor Notification Requirements: Covered large institutional investors must notify renters in writing at move-in and annually about the resource, provide contact details for their dispute handlers, and display resource information prominently on their public websites.
- Annual Reporting: HUD must submit a public report to Congress by March 31 each year aggregating dispute types, numbers, and resolutions (anonymized to protect privacy).
- Data Protection: HUD must safeguard personally identifiable information consistent with existing confidentiality standards.
- Investor Annual Notifications: Starting in 2026, covered investors must annually inform HUD of their status, the number of homes under their control, and their locations (with exceptions for small holdings in a city).
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill introduces new federal oversight mechanisms for single-family rental properties owned by large institutional investors, including mandatory disclosure requirements and a federal intake system for renter complaints. It does not amend existing statutes but creates standalone obligations for HUD and private entities that exceed current voluntary or state-level practices.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases HUD's administrative workload for complaint handling, investigations, and reporting; may require coordination with other federal agencies and state authorities.
- Citizens: Provides renters with a new federal channel for raising issues, potentially improving access to information and dispute resolution, though outcomes depend on agency follow-up.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Renters of covered single-family homes.
- Covered large institutional investors (defined as for-profit entities controlling 350 or more single-family homes, with detailed rules on investment control and exceptions for certain purchases like new construction or affordable housing programs).
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- State housing or consumer protection authorities.
- Congress (as recipient of annual reports).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill establishes a federal role in facilitating renter complaints against private investors without creating new private rights of action or preempting state laws. It includes complex definitions distinguishing "covered" properties and investors to target large-scale ownership while carving out exemptions for government entities, nonprofits, and specific transaction types. Data aggregation requirements aim to balance transparency with privacy protections.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Renter Resource Center Act — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (19 pages)