The Philadelphia City Council has passed new housing bills that aim to ease the financial burden on renters while imposing restrictions on landlords. The proposed legislation, which includes changes to security deposit requirements and application fees, is designed to help tenants afford move-in costs and provide better protections for tenants in the face of rising rental rates. Councilmember Rue Landau sponsors the bills, emphasizing the need to support renters struggling with financial pressures.

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Security Deposit Installments

Under the new proposal, landlords with at least three units who charge more than one month’s security deposit must allow tenants to pay the deposit in three equal installments. This would make it easier for renters to manage the upfront costs of moving into a property.

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Limits on Application Fees

The bill would cap application fees at $50 for prospective tenants. If the actual application cost is less than this amount, landlords would be allowed to charge only the actual service cost, ensuring tenants are not overburdened with excessive fees.

Tenant Financial Relief

Councilmember Rue Landau emphasized the importance of the bill, stating, “Many times tenants are scraping together every single cent they can,” highlighting the growing financial struggles of renters as wages fail to keep up with rising rents.

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Impact on Landlords with Multiple Units

The proposed law targets landlords with at least three rental units, aiming to ensure that larger property owners are held accountable for making rent payments more manageable. This bill specifically addresses the financial strain on tenants in multi-unit buildings.

Councilmember’s Push for Tenant Protection

Landau expressed that the goal of the legislation is to create fairer housing conditions for renters, stating, “We need to do everything we possibly can to make it easier for tenants to move in so they’re not stuck in properties that are in poor conditions or living in an unsafe living environment.”

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