A bill introduced by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) would require positive rental payments to be considered by certain owners of multifamily buildings, aimed at providing additional avenues of affordable housing to consumers.

The Access to Homeownership Act would require landlords who receive financing through the federal government (including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) for multifamily properties like apartment buildings to offer tenants to have their on-time rental payments reported to credit bureaus. This payment history would also be incorporated into the risk assessment standards for those who apply for federally insured mortgages through the Federal Housing Administration. The purpose of this bill is to further boost families’ ability to access affordable homeownership opportunities.

“Georgia families urgently need more affordable housing. That’s why I’m introducing this new legislation that will help families build credit as renters and better position them to become homeowners,” Ossoff said in a release. “I thank Georgia State Rep. Yasmin Neal for her steadfast advocacy on this issue and for working alongside me to draft this legislation.”

Neal said she appreciated Ossoff’s attention to this initiative.

“Doing right by the people and doing real work is at the core of the legislation me and the senator pursue,” she said. “I am humbled that the senator and his staff have been so open to exploring creative ways to help Americans get access to housing with me. Me, the senator and his staff have worked and had countless exhaustive meetings for two years to build housing measures that truly changes people’s lives. This bill does just that. The percentage of Americans in rental homes is at an all-time high and owning a home is the American dream; me and the senator want to ensure that every American has a fair shot at that dream.”