A Florida Representative recently announced two bills to empower working renters – the End Junk Fees for Renters Act and the End Tenant Credit Screening Act to breakdown hurdles for renters.
As Florida and the country grapple with rising costs, a worsening economy, and a housing crisis, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost, an Orlando Democrat, introduced two bills to empower working-class renters and dismantle the hurdles that have made it harder for too many to have a roof over their head.
Rep. Frost’s End Junk Fees for Renters Act and End Tenant Credit Screening Act would crack down on the excessive and dishonest junk fees that millions of renters are charged when applying and every month thereafter by money-hungry landlords while also removing a major obstacle renters face when applying for housing by prohibiting landlords from using credit scores and consumer reports when screening potential tenants.
Rep. Frost’s bills come as Florida and the U.S. face a housing affordability crisis that continues to squeeze working people and renters, too often forcing people to slip into homelessness at a time when cities are criminalizing folks who cannot afford to keep a roof over their heads.
Congressman Maxwell Frost, who was joined by local elected leaders including State Rep. Anna Eskamani and housing organizations and advocates, recently posted on the local Orlando community Reddit page where he received hundreds of comments and dozens of stories from local folks who have been victimized by excessive and hidden fees from landlords or have been outright denied housing because of their credit scores.
“At a time when many people in Central Florida and across the country are struggling to make ends meet, we must remove the obstacles that prevent them from keeping a roof over their heads. Hidden fees and discriminatory credit screenings are major challenges for renters,” said Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost. “These bills will help create a fairer, more equitable, and transparent rental market. If we want a future where everyone has access to stable, secure housing, then we must end junk fees. We must end discriminatory credit screenings. We must make housing a right, not a luxury. We’ve got a lot of work left to do for renters and to address the housing crisis, but these bills are an important first step to offer immediate relief.”
The legislation has support from the community. The End Junk Fees for Renters Act is endorsed by the National Housing Law Project, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Homelessness Law Center, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients). The End Tenant Credit Screening Act is endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients).
“Credit scores were never intended to gauge whether someone will be a good tenant. They’re designed to predict whether someone will be late paying a loan, not rent, which is a much higher-priority bill than a credit card. Given the current rental housing crisis, this practice makes a bad situation even worse. We applaud Congressman Frost for introducing a bill to put a stop to this unfair practice,” stated Chi Chi Wu, Director of Consumer Reporting and Data Advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center.
Anna Eskamani, who is currently running for Orlando Mayor in 2027, said she was proud to join Congressman Maxwell Frost to support his reintroduction of pro-renter bills in Congress. Eskamani said that housing affordability is the top issue for the local community right now and she called on seeking solutions from all directions.
