All Issues

Consumer Protections for Tenants

Renters are facing shortages of affordable, decent housing, spiking rent increases, and abuses by corporate and private equity landlords. NCLC advocates for strong protections in these and other areas where consumer laws and renter protection intersect.

Key Topics

Rental Debt

NCLC works to address abusive practices by landlords and property managers seeking payment for rental debts.

Rental Housing Junk Fees

Protecting renters and rental housing applicants from hidden, misleading, and excessive fees.

Tenant Screening

Ensuring that inaccurate and discriminatory tenant screening is not a bar to housing.

Featured

Recent Resources

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Report Shows States Stepping up to Fight Rental Housing Junk Fees

November 19, 2025

What States Can Do to Regulate Tenant Screening

November 14, 2025

“What the Heck, Dude!”: How States Can Fight Rental Housing Junk Fees

November 13, 2025

Vox: The end of rent debt?

September 30, 2025

CNBC: More consumers are using rent payments to boost their credit score. Here’s what to know

September 15, 2025

Coalition letter to HUD and OMB Opposing Weakening of Disparate Impact Rule

September 2, 2025

The New York Times: A Way for People With Low Credit Scores to Raise Them

June 20, 2025

NCLC Letter to MA Budget Conference Committee Re Tenant Broker Fees

June 11, 2025

2025 Consumer Reform Priorities to Protect Tenants

April 18, 2025

Comments & Letters

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Coalition letter to HUD and OMB Opposing Weakening of Disparate Impact Rule

September 2, 2025

NCLC Letter to MA Budget Conference Committee Re Tenant Broker Fees

June 11, 2025

NCLC Petition for Rulemaking under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to Protect Renters

August 12, 2024

Comments Concerning Rental Housing Junk Fees in Response to the FTC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

February 7, 2024

Comments to FHFA on Tenant Protections for Enterprise-Backed Multifamily Properties Request for Information

July 27, 2023

Comments on Tenant Screening Request for Information by FTC and CFPB

May 30, 2023

Group Comments to the FTC Regarding Rental Housing Junk Fees

February 8, 2023

NCLC & NHLP Comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Regarding Fees Imposed by Providers of Consumer Financial Products or Services

April 11, 2022

Letter to CFPB Regarding Rental Debt Survey of Legal Aid and Non-Profit Attorneys

December 14, 2021

Reports

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“What the Heck, Dude!”: How States Can Fight Rental Housing Junk Fees

November 13, 2025

Cracking the Code: Understanding and Overcoming Language Barriers in Consumer Finance

September 24, 2024

Digital Denials: How Abuse, Bias, and Lack of Transparency in Tenant Screening Harm Renters

September 26, 2023

Too Damn High: How Junk Fees Add to Skyrocketing Rents

March 13, 2023

Unfair Debts With No Way Out: Consumers Share Their Experiences With Rental Debt Collectors

October 7, 2022

Mission Creep: a Primer on Use of Credit Reports & Scores for Non-Credit Purposes

August 3, 2022

Broken Records Redux: How Errors by Criminal Background Check Companies Continue to Harm Consumers Seeking Jobs and Housing

December 10, 2019

Issue Briefs

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What States Can Do to Regulate Tenant Screening

November 14, 2025

2025 Consumer Reform Priorities to Protect Tenants

April 18, 2025

Overview: What States Can Do To Help Struggling Consumers

January 2, 2025

2024 Consumer Reform Priorities to Protect Tenants

March 7, 2024

Even the Catch-22s Come With Catch-22s: Potential Harms & Drawbacks of Rent Reporting

March 6, 2024

2024 Credit & Consumer Reporting Priorities to Promote Economic Stability

March 6, 2024

WAAT: Protections and Support for Renters

September 21, 2022

Zombie Records: How Sealed or Expunged Court Records in Tenant & Employment Screening Reports May Illegally Cost People Jobs & Housing

June 29, 2022

Assisting Consumers with Rental Debt During COVID-19: Legal Aid and Non-Profit Attorneys Share Their Experiences

December 14, 2021

Testimony

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Testimony in Support of New Mexico S.B. 267, a Bill Regulating Certain Rental Housing Junk Fees

March 7, 2025

Testimony in Support of Oregon H.B. 2967, a Bill That Would Prohibit Rental Application Fees

February 19, 2025

Testimony of Ariel Nelson Before the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee in Support of H.B. 251

January 24, 2022

Testimony of Chi Chi Wu before the Massachusetts Legislature in Support of H.1429/S.894: An Act Regulating the Use of Credit Reporting in Housing

January 11, 2022

Testimony of NCLC Staff Attorney Ariel Nelson Supporting CT HB 6528

March 4, 2021

Press Releases & News

View All for Press Releases & News
Report Shows States Stepping up to Fight Rental Housing Junk Fees

November 19, 2025

Vox: The end of rent debt?

September 30, 2025

CNBC: More consumers are using rent payments to boost their credit score. Here’s what to know

September 15, 2025

The New York Times: A Way for People With Low Credit Scores to Raise Them

June 20, 2025

FTC Rule Stops Short of Protecting Tenants from Junk Fees in Rental Housing

December 17, 2024

Vox: How hidden fees keep renters trapped

October 1, 2024

What the Heck, Dude! New Report Focuses on How States Can Fight Rental Housing Junk Fees

September 5, 2024

KUER/NPR: Utah’s rents are already a challenge. Extra fees can stretch things even further

August 28, 2024

HUD Takes Aim at Discriminatory Practices by Tenant Screening Companies and Housing Providers

May 3, 2024

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