Localmedium impact · 5/10substantive210138

City Council Votes to Give Renters Relief from Traditional Security Deposit Payments Requirements

Official:Amending Chapter 9-800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Landlord and Tenant," to address matters related to the landlord and tenant relationship during the novel coronavirus of 2019 pandemic, including providing for alternative methods for tenants to meet their obligation to make security deposits; all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Green

Introduced: February 18, 2021

: Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless

housing public health rental market

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2020–2023 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 aims to help Philadelphia renters by providing alternative ways for them to pay security deposits instead of a traditional upfront lump sum payment.

What This Bill Does

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

The bill amends Chapter 9-800 of The Philadelphia Code to address the landlord and tenant relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following substantive changes are made

Alternative methods for tenants to pay security deposits: The bill allows tenants to pay security deposits through rental security insurance or installment payments, in addition to the traditional upfront lump sum payment.
Protection for landlords: The bill ensures that landlords are reasonably protected against damages and unpaid rent, despite the alternative payment methods.
Affected parties: Residential tenants and landlords of rental properties in the city are affected by this change.
No specific funding or monetary allocation is mentioned in the bill.