BOISE, Idaho — Boise City Councilmembers passed the fourth renter protection in the last two months on Tuesday.
The latest protection prevents landlords from discriminating against how a person pays rent. City housing adviser Nicki Hellenkamp said landlords can still pick and choose who they rent to.
However, she said landlords will need to accept any legal form of payment when it comes to money. That includes child support, vouchers and other kinds of subsidies.
Hellenkamp said housing can be a big challenge for some people, especially over the last few years.
She is hopeful this new protection will make a big difference for people with non-traditional income.
"What we're really hoping to see is landlords being willing to accept, again, any source of income that's lawful and verifiable," Hellenkamp said, "so that people whose income comes in a form other than wages have a fighting chance, just like anyone else, to find a place that they can afford to rent in the city."
City Council passed three other protections in late August. Landlords will no longer be able to retaliate against renters if they need something fixed.
Landlords will also be required to give security deposits back if they are tearing down the building. Additionally, they must also give renters a city document outlining their rights and responsibilities.
All of these protections go into effect on Jan. 1. Hellenkamp said the city is planning various outreach events to ensure community members know about the new ordinances.
"We really believe that these protections are such an important first step in trying to address some of the challenges of our rental market," she said.
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