Key Takeaways
- The Blueprint for a Renter's Bill of Rights establishes five core principles to protect America's 44 million renter households.
- Federal agencies will work to limit egregious rent increases and stop unfair housing practices.
- The initiative addresses the housing crisis where nearly half of renters spend over 30% of income on housing.
- New protections include eviction prevention measures and tenant rights to organize without retaliation.
The Biden administration has announced new principles for the housing market to protect renters across the U.S. These principles, included in the Blueprint for a Renter's Bill of Rights, aim to stop practices that make it hard for people to get housing and restrict rent increases that are too high in properties with government-backed mortgages.
The White House reports that more than 44 million households—about 35% of the U.S. population—rent their homes. Almost half of renter households spend more than 30% of their monthly income on rent and utilities. Before the public health crisis, 900,000 people were evicted from their homes every year.
This historic initiative represents a major step forward for tenant protections. The Blueprint provides federal agencies, local governments, and housing organizations with principles to follow, including access to safe, quality, accessible, and affordable housing, and clear and fair leases.
Principles Laid Out in White House Blueprint for a Renter's Bill of Rights
The Blueprint for a Renter's Bill of Rights provides federal agencies, local government agencies, and housing organizations with a comprehensive framework of principles to follow. These principles aim to ensure all Americans have access to safe, quality, accessible, and affordable housing with clear and fair lease terms.
This groundbreaking initiative addresses the severe housing crisis facing American renters. Even before the pandemic, rent increased much more rapidly than wages. In 2019, almost a quarter of the 44 million renter households spent at least half of their income on rent.
The Five Core Principles:
- 1Safe, Quality, and Affordable Housing: Everyone deserves housing that meets livability standards without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- 2Transparent and Fair Leases: All lease terms should be clear, written in plain language, with no hidden fees or deceptive practices.
- 3Rights Education and Enforcement: Tenants must know their legal rights and have protection from discrimination and unfair exclusion.
- 4Right to Organize: Renters should be able to form tenant groups without fear of retaliation or housing loss.
- 5Eviction Prevention: Tenants deserve access to resources and fair legal processes to avoid housing instability.
First Principle: Everyone Has the Right to Safe, Quality, Accessible, and Affordable Housing
The first principle establishes that renters should be able to find safe, decent, and affordable housing without spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs. This fundamental right requires rental property owners, state and local governments to ensure homes meet habitability standards and are free of health and safety risks.
Housing Quality Standards
Rental property owners and housing authorities must ensure that:
- Properties meet living standards and are free from health and safety hazards
- Advertised services and amenities (utilities, working appliances) are provided
- Residential units and common areas are well-maintained
Accessible Application Process
Renters shouldn't face excessive barriers to housing. Application and documentation requirements should be streamlined, and tenant screening should be conducted fairly and equally across all applicants.
Fair Rent Increases
While rent increases may be necessary to cover business costs, they should be reasonable, transparent, and fair to prevent price gouging. Tenants deserve predictability in their housing costs.
Second Principle: Leases Should Be Transparent and Fair
Renters deserve transparent and fair leases that clearly outline their rights and responsibilities while explaining rental terms in plain language. Leases should be free from unfair or deceptive practices that put tenants at a disadvantage.
What Fair Leases Must Avoid:
Mandatory Arbitration Clauses
Leases should not force tenants into arbitration, limiting their legal options.
Hidden or Illegal Fees
All fees must be clearly disclosed upfront with no surprise charges.
Unapproved or Deceptive Terms
False promises and unfair practices must be eliminated from rental agreements.
Fair Security Deposit Policies
The lease should include transparent security deposit policies that are fair to all parties. Deposits should be appropriately sized and held in interest-bearing accounts for the lease duration.
Reasonable Advance Notice
Leases should grant renters reasonable advance notice for property inspections and significant unit changes, respecting tenant privacy and planning needs.
Plain Language Requirements
Lease terms must be written in simple, clear language that renters can easily understand. A plain-language briefing should accompany the lease to ensure familiarity with all terms.
Third Principle: Rights Should Be Clear, Taught, Enforced, and Continuously Improved
Federal, state, and local governments must ensure that housing providers inform renters of their legal rights while maintaining procedures that protect against illegal discrimination and unfair exclusion practices.
Fair Housing Act Protections:
The Fair Housing Act and other federal laws ensure that housing providers know and follow tenant rights and protections. Discrimination is prohibited based on:
Source of Income Protection
New regulations clarify that discrimination based on source of income (such as housing vouchers) in the rental market is illegal.
Sexual Harassment Protections
All renters are protected from sexual harassment by landlords or their employees. Victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault should not face penalties for their abusers' actions.
Fair Background Checks
Tenant background checks must be legal, fair, and unbiased to ensure housing access. Landlords must inform applicants why they were denied housing or charged higher rates.
Fourth Principle: The Right to Organize and Be Represented by Those Who Are Accountable
Renters should be able to organize and form tenant groups without interference from landlords or property managers. Organizing shouldn't put residents at risk of losing their housing or facing negative consequences.
Key Organizing Rights:
Freedom to Form Tenant Groups
Companies providing or managing housing should recognize legitimate tenant organizations and allow meetings and collective advocacy.
Protection from Retaliation
Landlords cannot take adverse action against tenants who participate in organizing activities. This protection is fundamental to healthy tenant-landlord relationships.
Know Your Property Owner
Renters should know the building owner's identity and have access to contact information for important property management matters.
Federal Government Support
It's significant that the federal government and White House are backing tenant organizing rights. With over 44 million households (about 35% of the U.S. population) renting their homes, collective action becomes increasingly important.
While the coronavirus pandemic led to new tenant protections and rental assistance programs, most emergency support has expired. Advocates have long requested government action on behalf of renters, nearly half of whom spend over 30% of their monthly income on rent and utilities.
Fifth Principle: Eviction Prevention and Fair Legal Process
Renters should have access to resources that help them avoid eviction, ensure fair legal processes during eviction proceedings, and prevent future housing instability.
Why This Initiative Was Essential:
The housing crisis has created severe challenges for American renters:
- Even before the pandemic, rent increased far more rapidly than wages
- In 2019, nearly one quarter of 44 million renter households spent at least half their income on rent
- Rents increased nearly 26% nationwide during the pandemic
- Limited housing supply gives property owners more control over prices and lease terms
Eviction Prevention Resources
Tenants should have access to alternatives that stop formal eviction proceedings, including:
- Grace periods for late rent payments
- Ability to maintain tenancy by resolving lease violations
- Formal dispute resolution processes before court proceedings
- Meaningful participation in pre-eviction diversion programs
Fair Eviction Process Rights
If eviction is filed, tenants deserve:
- 30 days notice and right to legal counsel
- Hearings in the tenant's language with competent officers
- Due process protections including presenting evidence and cross-examination
- Ability to appeal without posting bond
- Sealed eviction records until a judge rules against the tenant
Fair Debt Collection Practices
For renters with rental debt, collection practices should require clear proof that debt is owed and provide freedom from deceptive or abusive collection attempts.
Federal Agency Actions to Protect Renters:
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)
FHFA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac will investigate tenant protections limiting excessive rent increases on federally-backed properties. The federal government pays for over 28% of all rental housing units from the private sector.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC will investigate ways to expand its authority to stop practices that unfairly prevent consumers from obtaining and keeping rental housing, including issues with eviction records, background checks, and high application fees.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD will move toward requiring certain rental property owners to provide at least 30 days notice before ending a lease for non-payment. The agency is also providing $20 million to the Eviction Protection Grant Program to help low-income tenants with legal assistance.
Expert Perspective
"A nationwide Renter Bill of Rights would give tenants more protections and increase their housing security. The greatest benefit would be giving renters—who are frequently at a disadvantage in the rental market—much-needed rights."
The Blueprint could benefit tenants by providing more stability and security in their homes. With the right to reasonable and predictable rent, renters would not be forced to live in substandard conditions, making it more difficult for landlords to raise rates excessively.
— Mike Schmidt, Civil Trial Law Specialist & Personal Injury Trial Law Specialist
The Bottom Line
The Biden administration's Blueprint for a Renter's Bill of Rights represents a historic step forward in protecting America's 44 million renter households. By establishing five core principles and coordinating federal agency actions, this initiative addresses the severe housing crisis where nearly half of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
From ensuring safe and affordable housing to protecting tenants' rights to organize and preventing unjust evictions, these principles provide a comprehensive framework for federal agencies, local governments, and housing organizations. The involvement of agencies like FHFA, FTC, and HUD demonstrates a coordinated effort to limit excessive rent increases and expand tenant protections.
While implementation will take time, this Blueprint gives renters—who are often at a disadvantage in the rental market—much-needed rights and transparency. Understanding these principles empowers tenants to advocate for fair treatment, reasonable rent, and housing stability in their communities.
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Loretta Kilday
Housing Rights Expert & Senior Editor
Loretta Kilday is a tenant rights advocate and housing law specialist with over 12 years of experience helping renters understand and exercise their legal protections. She has worked with numerous tenant advocacy organizations and legal aid societies to educate renters about fair housing laws, dispute resolution, and tenant rights enforcement. Loretta is passionate about empowering tenants with knowledge to ensure safe, fair, and affordable housing for all.