(a) As specified in subdivision (b), and except as provided in subdivision (j), beginning July 1, 2021, any landlord of an assisted housing development shall offer the tenant or tenants obligated on the lease of each unit in that housing development the option of having the tenantâs rental payment information reported to at least one nationwide consumer reporting agency that meets the definition in Section 603(p) of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1681a(p)) or any other consumer reporting agency that meets the definition in Section 603(f) of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1681a(f)) so long as the consumer reporting agency resells or otherwise furnishes rental payment information to a nationwide consumer reporting agency that meets the definition in Section 603(p) of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1681a(p)). A tenantâs election to have rent reported under this subdivision shall be in writing, as described in subdivision (c). (b) For leases entered into on and after July 1, 2021, the offer of rent reporting shall be made at the time of the lease agreement and at least once annually thereafter. For leases outstanding as of July 1, 2021, the offer of rent reporting shall be made no later than October 1, 2021, and at least once annually thereafter. (c) Upon the agreement of the tenant, the landlord may provide the offer of rent reporting to the tenant by first-class United States mail or email. The offer of rent reporting shall include a written election of rent reporting that contains all of the following: (1) A statement that reporting of the tenantâs rental payment information is optional. (2) Identification of each consumer reporting agency to which rental payment information will be reported. (3) If applicable, a statement that all of the tenantâs rental payments will be reported, regardless of whether the payments are timely, late, or missed. (4) The amount of any fee charged pursuant to subdivision (f). (5) Instructions on how to submit the written election of rent reporting to the landlord by first-class United States mail or email. (6) A statement that the tenant may opt into rent reporting at any time following the initial offer by the landlord. (7) A statement that the tenant may elect to stop rent reporting at any time, but that they will not be able to resume rent reporting for at least six months after their election to opt out. (8) Instructions on how to opt out of reporting rental payment information. (9) A signature block that the tenant shall date and sign in order to accept the offer of rent reporting. (d) If the offer of rent reporting is made by first-class United States mail, the landlord shall provide the tenant with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to return the written election of rent reporting. (e) The written election to begin rent reporting shall not be accepted from the tenant at the time of the offer. A tenant may submit their completed written election of rent reporting at any time after they receive the offer of rent reporting from the landlord. A tenant may request and shall obtain additional copies of the written election of rent reporting form from the landlord at any time. (f) If a tenant elects to have that tenantâs rental payments reported to a consumer reporting agency under subdivision (a), the landlord may require that tenant to pay a fee not to exceed the lesser of the actual cost to the landlord to provide the service or ten dollars ($10) per month. The payment or nonpayment of this fee by the tenant shall not be reported to a consumer reporting agency. (g) If a tenant fails to pay any fee required by the landlord pursuant to subdivision (f), all of the following shall apply: (1) The failure to pay the fee shall not be cause for termination of the tenancy, whether pursuant to Section 1161 of the Code of Civil Procedure or otherwise. (2) The landlord shall not deduct the unpaid fee from the tenantâs
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