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City Council Moves to Rein in Rogue Landlords with Stricter Eviction Laws, Tenant Protection Fund Established

Official:Amending Chapter 9-3900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Property Licenses and Owner Accountability,” by adding and amending certain definitions; authorizing the establishment of the Low-Income Tenant Legal Defense Fund; and requiring certain documents in actions for eviction or collection of rents, all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Council President Clarke

Introduced: March 7, 2019

housinglandlord tenant lawrental licenses

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2016–2019 Council term and when that term ran out. The public record shows no committee vote and no floor vote at any stage, so no member of Council ever went on record for or against it.

That is not unusual here. Of the 8,465 bills introduced between 2000 and 2025, 1,624 lapsed without a single recorded vote. Ninety percent of bills that became law carry a roll call. Three percent of lapsed bills do. How this works.

Plain-Language Summary

This bill requires landlords to obtain a rental license and Certificate of Rental Suitability before evicting tenants or collecting rent. It also establishes a fund to help low-income tenants with legal defense.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Landlords must obtain a rental license and Certificate of Rental Suitability before evicting tenants or collecting rent.
The Low-Income Tenant Legal Defense Fund will be established to help low-income tenants with legal defense.
In actions for eviction or collection of rents, landlords must submit certain documents, including a copy of the rental license and Certificate of Rental Suitability.
The city has no specific information on the source of funding for the Low-Income Tenant Legal Defense Fund, but it appears that the fund will be established "under certain terms and conditions" which are not specified in the bill.