Rent bill sputters out in Utah Legislature

SALT LAKE CITY — For the third year in a row, a Utah bill which would require landlords to give two months notice before they raise the rent has been stopped in its tracks. On Friday, a motion to recommend HB182 failed in the House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee. 

Had HB182 become law, landlords would have been required to give tenants at least 60 days notice before raising the tenants’ rate.

Related: City Council cracking down on short-term rentals in Cottonwood Heights

Executive Director of the Utah Rental Housing Association, Paul Smith told KSL NewsRadio that opposing this version of the bill was preemptory.

“We knew it wouldn’t pass in the same form this year, so we opposed it this year,” Smith said. “We tried to get the sponsor to make the changes the state senate asked for but she refused to make those changes.”

Current Utah law outlines when landlords may or may not raise rent. Generally, the only prohibition a landlord faces is that they cannot raise the rent during the term of a lease. The number of days required when issuing a rent increase notice depends upon the type of lease agreement the renter has signed. 

Giving tools to Utah landlords and renters

Bill sponsor Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion, D-Cottonwood Heights, previously told KSL she wants renters to have every tool possible to help them thrive. She felt HB182 helped both renters and landlords.

And Smith said that anybody who wants lawmakers to take another look at a similar bill should contact their representatives. 

“We want to negotiate with rent interest groups, to find something that a win-win for everybody. I would encourage anybody interested, let the sponsor know. We’ll try to make a deal next year,” Smith said.