2026 / Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP) Series
Council File 26-0005
Brief
Council File 26-0005 initiates the 2026 Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP) series, which creates a mechanism for tenants to place contested rent payments into escrow accounts administered by the city when facing housing code violations or habitability issues. The program aims to protect tenants from eviction while disputes are resolved, without requiring them to pay rent to landlords with unresolved code violations. Introduced December 18, 2025, the file remains in early stages with no committee action yet recorded.
Full summary
The 2026 Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP) Series creates a city-administered escrow system for tenants disputing rent based on habitability defects or housing code violations. Under the program structure, tenants facing uninhabitable conditions can deposit their rent payments into an escrow account held by the city rather than paying the landlord directly. This protects tenants from eviction while the underlying housing violations are adjudicated or remedied, and can incentivize landlords to address code violations knowing rent is withheld pending compliance. The program represents a tenant protection mechanism positioned between informal rent withholding (which can expose tenants to eviction) and formal legal proceedings. REAP allows disputes over habitability—including issues like lack of heat, water, working plumbing, or rodent infestations—to be resolved through the escrow process while maintaining rent revenue collection through the city. Introduced on December 18, 2025, this file is at the very beginning of the legislative process. No committee referral or action has yet been recorded. The file remains open with an expiration date of December 18, 2027, providing a two-year window for full legislative consideration and adoption.