Latest in Landlord Tenant law news: 

CALIFORNIA – San Francisco is considering an ordinance that would, among other things, ban smoking in all common areas of apartment buildings, condominiums and residential hotels. The ordinance would also make smoking a nuisance. Reportedly, the proposed ordinance has just recently been amended to prevent eviction of a smoker under the "nuisance" provision.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Source: San Francisco City Hall Examiner

NEW YORK – The Childhood Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention and Safe Housing Act (the Act) is awaiting Governor Paterson's signature or veto. If signed into law, the Act would, among other things, provide tax credits to certain homeowners and landlords of up to $1,500 per property and up to $5,000 per landlord for lead abatement.
Source: The Observer-Dispatch
Source: The Ithaca Journal

NEW YORK – Governor Paterson has recently signed the "Tenant Notification" bill into law. The new law, which goes into effect in December 2008, reportedly requires landlords to notify tenants of the availability of environmental contamination results. Under the law, owners must provide tenants with a fact sheet from the New York State Department of Health which identifies a compound or contaminate of concern, along with guidelines for indoor air quality and health risks associated with exposure. Landlords who fail to comply with these requirements could face fines of up to $500 per violation and $500 for each day they are in violation.
Source: WBNG-TV

PENNSYLVANIA – Littlestown Borough is considering a proposed rental ordinance – the Residential and Commercial Rental Unit Occupancy Ordinance. The ordinance would require landlords to register their properties, tenants to register their names, a copy of the lease agreement to be filed with the county, and all properties to be inspected annually. The proposed ordinance is intended to ensure compliance with other borough ordinances. Tenants are reportedly concerned about privacy violations and being held to different standards than homeowners. Landlords reportedly claim that other ordinances already cover property maintenance issues.
Source: The Evening Sun

WASHINGTON – Seattle City Council will hold a public hearing on October 7, which will address a draft ordinance to extend the city's Incentive Zoning program throughout the city. The ordinance would require a developer to, in exchange for approval to build higher or more densely, commit to include or pay for affordable housing, pay for historic preservation, open space or other public benefits.
Source: Seattlepi.com
Source: Seattle.gov

WEST VIRGINIA – Senate Bill 163, which would criminalize destruction of property by renters, is pending in the West Virginia legislature. Reportedly, the bill provides that persons who cause between $300 and $1,000 in damages to a dwelling could be charged with a misdemeanor and face up to 6 months in jail. Persons who cause over $1,000 in damages could be charged with a felony and face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Source: The Intelligencer Wheeling News-Register

Source Quinlan Landlord Tenant Law Archives