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Which protections should be included in a Tenants Bill of Rights?

Fee limitations - restrict application fees and/or the percentage of rent that a landlord can charge for a rental deposit.

Relocation assistance - stipulates a landlord must pay a certain amount towards moving costs for tenants who are displaced by housing rehabilitation, demolition, or other breaks in the lease agreement.

Preventing consideration of criminal history - an anti-discrimintion measure wherein landlords cannot consider the criminal history of an applicant when evaluating potential tenants.

First come, first served - requires landlords to accept the first rental application that meets their publicly stated rental requirements.

Renter agency for repairs - allows tenants to take care of repairs themselves and charge the landlord accordingly; it is a policy aimed at landlords who often take a long time or refuse outright to make necessary repairs.

Right to organize - prevents landlords from interfering if renters decide to form a tenants’ union.

Just-cause eviction - strictly limits when and how landlords can remove tenants by forcing them to prove that the situation meets a certain standard to justify eviction.

Adequate notice for rent changes - requires landlords give a sufficient noticeprior to raising raise rents.

Right of first refusal - applies when a landlord puts a on the market and gives tenants the opportunity to purchase the building; in some cases, tenants may also assign this right to a local nonprofit like a community land trust.