It proposes that deposits be made in the Reserve Bank.
SANTO DOMINGO.- “It is prohibited to establish as a condition for renting housing the condition of not having children, being a foreigner or establishing discrimination related to ethnicity, sex, creed, social condition or other forms of discrimination,” states Article 31 of the bill, approved in its first reading by the Chamber of Deputies on the 25th of this month.
Although the bill expired due to the closure of the First Ordinary Legislature, it will be presented in the Lower House, in the Second Legislature that begins on August 16, when Luis Abinader's second presidential term begins.
The legislative piece states that "those who request housing must express the indications indicated in the preceding paragraph, and also if their text contains expressions that violate or incite the violation of the legal provisions on the matter.".
Similarly, Article 19 establishes that the owners and managers of houses, apartments, buildings, offices and physical spaces for rent in urban and suburban areas; or of warehouses, industrial buildings and similar, will deposit in the Reserve Bank of the Dominican Republic the sums that they require from the tenants as a deposit in the original contract, to guarantee the payment of rents or the fulfillment of any other legal or conventional obligation derived from the contract.
“The owners or their representatives shall deposit in the Reserve Bank of the Dominican Republic the sums delivered by the tenants for the concept indicated in article 19, together with an original and a copy of the rental agreement, within a period of no more than thirty days from the date of entry into force.”.
He explains that the Reserve Bank of the Dominican Republic will keep a record of the deposited contracts and will send a copy of the rental agreement to the corresponding town hall where the property is located.
It states that in order to receive payment of the guarantee, a copy of the contract must be deposited with the corresponding town hall of the property's address and that if the deposit is not made within the period indicated in this article, the owner will pay a surcharge of twenty percent for each month of delay during the first five months, and one percent, from the sixth month until the contract is registered.
“The amount of this surcharge will be collected by the Reserve Bank of the Dominican Republic, which will transfer it to a special fund for the promotion of the development of the Real Estate Market, which will be administered by the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVHED).”.
As soon as the rental agreement ends, and the owner is due to return the deposit or a portion thereof, the tenant must obtain a certificate from the owner or manager of the rented property, stating that the deposit can be released to him. Upon presentation of this certificate, the Reserve Bank of the Dominican Republic will deliver the full amount or the corresponding portion, with the remaining portion being made available to the owner or manager to cover the repair costs required by the property due to the tenant's actions, as stipulated in Article 21.
“If differences arise between the tenant and the landlord regarding the definitive termination of the contract, the tenant shall hand over said property by notifying the nearest branch of the Banco de Reservas de la República Dominicana designated to receive the guarantee. This entity shall notify the landlord and, within a period not exceeding seventy-two hours, shall proceed as established in this article,” it states.
