HBA-CCH H.B. 2186 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2186 By: Davis, Yvonne Business & Industry 3/29/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Most leasing agents and apartment complex managers use standard lease contracts that list the rental costs and charges that a landlord may assess. However, apartment complex managers may charge fees other than those listed on the standard lease agreement and some landlords charge maintenance and filing fees without giving tenants written or oral notice at the beginning of the lease term. House Bill 2186 requires landlords of residential properties to disclose all potential fees that may be assessed to a tenant prior to entering a lease agreement. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 2186 amends the Property Code to prohibit a landlord of a residential property from assessing a charge at the end of a lease term or after a tenant surrenders the premises unless the lease specifies the possibility of such a charge, the conditions under which the charge may be assessed, the method by which the charge is to be computed, and before the lease is entered into, the landlord informs the tenant regarding the possibility of such a charge. The bill does not affect a landlord's right to recover the cost of repairing damaged property covered by a lease. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.