DOVER — Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings and the Department of Justice released a letter Tuesday urging proprietors to comply with the state’s Residential Landlord/Tenant Code.
It follows recent efforts by the General Assembly to strengthen protections for tenants and hold landlords accountable, as renters’ complaints are among the most common received by the Department of Justice’s Fraud & Consumer Protection Division.
“Landlords have tremendous power over their tenants. The Residential Landlord/Tenant Code sets rules of the road to ensure that tenants are not exploited. The presence of prohibited or unenforceable provisions in a lease can dissuade tenants from enforcing their rights and may constitute an unfair practice under the Consumer Fraud Act,” Ms. Jennings said in a statement.
“With this letter, landlords are on notice that it is their responsibility to comply with the law. The DOJ will continue to monitor residential leases to ensure that tenants’ rights are protected.”