(a) A landlord, agent, or person acting under the landlord's direction or control may not accept rent or a security deposit for residential rental property from a tenant after the leased premises have been (1) condemned or declared unfit for human habitation, (2) ordered to be vacated due to violations of a housing, health, or fire code or rental licensing ordinance by the applicable federal, state, or local authority, or (3) ordered to be vacated pursuant to a government taking. If a landlord, agent, or a person acting under the landlord's direction or control violates this section, the landlord is liable to the tenant for actual damages and an amount equal to three times the amount of all money collected from the tenant after date of condemnation or declaration, plus costs and attorney fees. A violation of this section violates section 504B.161 . This section shall be liberally construed for the protection of tenants.