New Philadelphia Law Gives Renters More Power to Fight Back Against Landlord Harassment, Up to $1K Per Issue

The City of Brotherly Love just became a little bit more renter-friendly. That’s because a package of citywide ordinances that were signed into law earlier this year just went into effect.

According to the National Apartment Association, the Safe Healthy Homes Act took effect on Nov. 1 after being signed into law by Mayor Cherelle Parker back in May. The act will provide renters with stronger protections against landlord misconduct and unsafe housing conditions.

But the act does more than ensure that renters are able to have access to safe and healthy rental properties without fear of retaliation when they voice concerns about issues; it also offers them compensation when the rules are violated.

According to Action News, that compensation comes in the form of a $1,000 payout per infraction, as well as reimbursement for any attorney fees. But the feedback from the act has been mixed, with some landlords and management companies saying that the act could force them to raise rents even higher.

Philadelphia’s New Law Gives Renters More Protections

The Public Interest Law Center breaks down some of the new changes in an FAQ posted to its website. According to the center, tenants will now have stronger protection from retaliation, which will include changing or ending leases. 

Tenants will now also have the right to organize, and landlords are prohibited from stopping them from creating tenant associations or groups. There are also new anti-harassment rules that require landlords to provide 24 hours’ notice before entering units for non-emergencies, among other changes.

There are also changes to what qualifies as a “good cause” when it comes to terminating a lease, even for those residents who have month-to-month agreements. For a complete list of what is covered under the new act, tenants and landlords should visit the Public Interest Law Center’s website. 

Philadelphia Landlords Raise Concerns About New Rules

While it may sound like a boon for renters, landlords in the Philly subreddit weren’t so sure about whether the act would work, especially when it comes to the new requirements.

“My concern here is that L&I can’t even keep up with construction inspections,” one landlord wrote. “If the theory is that at some point they’re going to require me to have my (well-maintained) rental properties inspected annually to keep my rental licenses, and that without the licenses my tenants don’t have to pay rent … well, then L&I had better be able to inspect in a timely fashion. That means, at minimum, 2 times the hiring budget. Probably more like 4 times.”

Another landlord wrote that they would have to increase rent prices if they were forced to hire an on-site maintenance person, which is one of the stipulations they say will impact rental properties with a certain number of tenants.  “The notion that a 10-unit building needs an on-site manager and [part-time] maintenance guy is even more nuts,” they wrote. 

Since the act just rolled out this month, it’s likely too early to tell how much help it’s providing the city yet. But when you consider that The Pew Charitable Trusts says that nearly half of Philadelphia households were renters between 2018 and 2022, it’s bound to change things for a lot of people living in the region.