Delaware legislation · 153rd General Assembly
Delaware HB217: Residential Leases/Key Surrender/Procedures
Status: Signed into law, June 24, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO KEY SURRENDER IN RESIDENTIAL LEASES.
What the bill says
An act to amend title 25 of the delaware code relating to key surrender in residential leases.
From the introduced text, June 17, 2025:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO KEY SURRENDER IN RESIDENTIAL LEASES. Section 1. Amend Subchapter I, Chapter 51, Title 25 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: § 5123. Surrender of rental unit keys. (a) If a lease requires the surrender of rental unit keys as a condition for return of a security deposit, the lease must provide a clear procedure for the surrender and may not require surrender prior to the end of the lease term. (b) If the last day of the lease falls on a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday, or other day on which the leasing management office is closed, possession of the rental unit shall be considered to have been returned on the date either of the following occurs: (1) Tenant surrenders keys to the rental unit in accordance with the procedures set forth in the lease. (2) Tenant completes the procedure under subsection (d) of this section. (c) If there is more than 1 tenant on the lease, possession is considered to have been returned to the landlord only when all tenants on the lease have complied with the key surrender procedure set forth in the lease, or as provided in subsection (d) of this section. …
Sponsors
- Kendra Johnson (D, 5) · primary sponsor
- Elizabeth Lockman (D, 3)
- Mara Gorman (D, 23)
- Larry Lambert (D, 7)
- Shannon Morris (R, 30)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
- : Reported Out of Committee (Housing & Land Use) in Senate with 5 Favorable
- : Assigned to Housing & Land Use Committee in Senate
- : Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 1 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT
- : Amendment HA 1 to HB 217 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
- : Amendment HA 1 to HB 217 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
- : Reported Out of Committee (Housing) in House with 2 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits
- : Introduced and Assigned to Housing Committee in House
Votes
- Passed (SM) (June 16, 2026): 21 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Passed (SM) (May 14, 2026): 38 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB217?
- HB217 is a bill in the Delaware Legislature (153rd General Assembly): Residential Leases/Key Surrender/Procedures.
- What does HB217 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend title 25 of the delaware code relating to key surrender in residential leases.
- What is the status of HB217?
- Signed into law as of June 24, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 24, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB217?
- Kendra Johnson (D, 5), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB217?
- On the Delaware Legislature website: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142553
Source: official Delaware record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.