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.

Utility Issues for Tenants

Advocating for consumer protection for tenant utilities.

Featured

Recent Resources

View All for Recent Resources
State Lawmakers Must Protect Tenants from Rent-Splitting Loans

October 20, 2026

The Seattle Times: WA tenants dread rental fees. Could an end be in sight?

August 27, 2026

What States Can Do About Security Deposit Alternatives

August 17, 2026

Comments in Response to Congressional RFI on AI in the Financial Marketplace

August 14, 2026

Comments on the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s Proposed Rule to Prohibit Charging Consumers Hidden “Junk Fees”

July 28, 2026

Letter to the Chicago City Council Regarding the Protecting Renters Ordinance

July 21, 2026

What States & Local Governments Can Do to Support Immigrants’ Financial Stability

June 22, 2026

Forbes: Security Deposit Payment Plans Could Cost More Than A Traditional Deposit, Report Finds

June 8, 2026

The New York Times: More Renters Are Using Tools to Skip Security Deposits, but There’s a Catch

June 5, 2026

Comments & Letters

View All for Comments & Letters
Comments in Response to Congressional RFI on AI in the Financial Marketplace

August 14, 2026

Comments on the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s Proposed Rule to Prohibit Charging Consumers Hidden “Junk Fees”

July 28, 2026

Letter to the Chicago City Council Regarding the Protecting Renters Ordinance

July 21, 2026

NCLC, NACA, NHLP, NLIHC, and PolicyLink Comments re: the FTC’s Unfair or Deceptive Rental Housing Fee Practices ANPRM, Project No. 207011

April 13, 2026

Letter to LA City Council Regarding Tenant Utility Billing

February 24, 2026

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

Reports

View All for Reports
Tenant Insecurity: How Security Deposit “Alternatives” Raise Tenants’ Costs and Erode their Protections

May 20, 2026

“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

View All for Issue Briefs
What States Can Do About Security Deposit Alternatives

August 17, 2026

What States & Local Governments Can Do to Support Immigrants’ Financial Stability

June 22, 2026

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

Testimony

View All for Testimony
Testimony to DC Council Housing Committee on B26 0595 True Act

March 30, 2026

Testimony in Support of Massachusetts H.1553, An Act to Regulate Junk Fees in Rental Housing

December 9, 2025

Support for Massachusetts Fair Chance in Housing Act

November 19, 2025

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
State Lawmakers Must Protect Tenants from Rent-Splitting Loans

October 20, 2026

The Seattle Times: WA tenants dread rental fees. Could an end be in sight?

August 27, 2026

Forbes: Security Deposit Payment Plans Could Cost More Than A Traditional Deposit, Report Finds

June 8, 2026

The New York Times: More Renters Are Using Tools to Skip Security Deposits, but There’s a Catch

June 5, 2026

Security Deposit Alternative Products are Hurting Tenant Financial Security

May 26, 2026

USA Today: Rent is crushing Americans. Now some companies say: Pay later

May 3, 2026

File Comments about Rental Junk Fees with the FTC

March 23, 2026

Washtenaw County Prosecutor, Consumer Advocates Sue Innovative Apartment Group Over Predatory Subleasing and Debt Collection Scam 

January 15, 2026

FTC Orders Greystar to Return $24 Million in Rental Housing Junk Fees to Harmed Tenants

December 3, 2025

Support NCLC

Please support NCLC's work to advance consumer rights and economic justice with a tax-deductible contribution today!

Donate