Code of Federal Regulations Title 24. Housing and Urban Development § 24.966.6 Prohibited lease provisions

(a) Confession of judgment. Prior consent by the tenant to any lawsuit the landlord may bring against him in connection with the lease and to a judgment in favor of the landlord.

(b) Distraint for rent or other charges. Agreement by the tenant that landlord is authorized to take property of the tenant and hold it as a pledge until the tenant performs the obligation which the landlord has determined the tenant has failed to perform.

(c) Exculpatory clauses. Agreement by the tenant not to hold the landlord or landlord's agent liable for any acts or omissions whether intentional or negligent on the part of the landlord or the landlord's authorized representatives or agents.

(d) Waiver of legal notice by tenant prior to actions for eviction or money judgments. Agreements by the tenant that the landlord may institute suit without any notice to the tenant that the suit has been filed, thus preventing the tenant from defending against the lawsuit.

(e) Waiver of legal proceedings. Authorization to the landlord to evict the tenant or hold or sell the tenant's possessions whenever the landlord determines that a breach or default has occurred without notice to the tenant or any determination by a court of the rights and liabilities of the parties.

(f) Waiver of jury trial. Authorization of the landlord's lawyer to appear in court for the tenant and waive the right to a trial by jury.

(g) Waiver of right to appeal judicial error in legal proceeding. Authorization to the landlord's lawyer to waive the right to appeal for judicial error in any suit or to waive the right to file a suit in equity to prevent the execution of a judgment.

(h) Tenant chargeable with cost of legal actions regardless of outcome. Provision that the tenant agrees to pay attorney's fees or other legal costs whenever the landlord decides to take action against the tenant even though the court determines that the tenant prevails in the action. Prohibition of this type of provision does not mean that the tenant as a party to the lawsuit may not be obligated to pay attorney's fees or other costs if he loses the suit.