Speak with a Landlord Tenant lawyer about protecting your rights when you have nowhere else to go. TU Victory! In Philadelphia, it is illegal for landlords to evict tenants or change any terms of the lease because they are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. Attorney Copoulos successfully defended against a Philadelphia Landlord-Tenant eviction in … Just Cause Eviction Protection. Philadelphia Municipal Court shall be served in any residential case (i.e., no residential evictions) until after December 31, 2020, except upon order of court upon good cause shown as provided in this order. By nature, a tenant pays a landlord an agreed amount of money to occupy a dwelling for a set period of time. However, if the State Agency determines that good cause did not exist for removal of a resident, a credit loss and recapture could result. Owner wants to make renovations with an empty unit (must provide notice and options to tenant). It just says there has to be a specific reason for tenants to be … "It doesn’t really do anything without any type of rent control attached to it. Landlords who own units built before 1978 must provide info about concentrations about … The “Good Cause Eviction” bill (SB2892/AB5030) protects low-income tenants by requiring landlords to prove to a judge that their eviction case against a tenant is for “good cause.” The proposed legislation also protects tenants from unconscionable rent increases, which are rent increases of more than 1.5 times the annual percentage change in the consumer price index. The only other “good cause” for eviction outlined in the bill is if the landlord or their "close relatives wanted to use the apartment as their primary residence.” Himmelstein says the bill doesn’t list the sale of the building as one of the grounds for a “good cause” eviction, so if the landlord wanted to sell, he wouldn't be able to evict tenants to deliver it empty. Alert: Philadelphia's "Good Cause" Eviction Bill. (2)In residential cases, Plaintiff Landlords who have obtained a judgement of possession Eviction. January 2, 2019. If you lose in court and do not appeal or if break your agreement, your landlord can legally evict you. 1. The Fair Housing Commission (FHC) is responsible for enforcing the âGood Causeâ eviction law. The Pennsylvania eviction process begins when the tenant breaches the lease or rental agreement. Even if Philadelphia had rent control, currently, a landlord could simply evict tenants in rent-controlled units for no reason and then raise rents for new tenants. A good cause would include non-payment of rent, nuisance behavior, or breaking the term of a lease. Call Mark Copoulos at 267-535-9776. The so-called “Good Cause Eviction” bill, also known as Universal Rent Control, would apply to nearly all market-rate residential rental units in New York City and throughout the entire state. (2)In residential cases, Plaintiff Landlords who have obtained a judgement of possession may seek leave of court to be exempted from the moratorium imposed by Section (1) above by filing a petition, supported by exhibit(s) and sworn affidavits or … The minimum requirements for filing an eviction notice with the Philadelphia courts require you to prove you have provided the tenant with: Partner for Good Housing Handbook, a Lease, Certificate of Rental Suitability, Notice to Vacate, and a Philadelphia Housing License (Rental License). Check court for status.-Check Wyoming's COVID-19 website for more information. “Housing is a human right, and my administration will keep fighting to make sure every Philadelphian has a safe and secure place to call home.” The Philadelphia Tenants Union began pushing for the bill in early 2017. If I have good tenants, I want to keep my good tenants happy. The Good Cause Bill, which provides just cause eviction protections to Philadelphia renters, was introduced by Councilmembers Jones, Gym, and Parker on October 5th and is currently pending in committee. Landlords are prohibited from evicting tenants in retaliation or as a form of discrimination. Mark D. Copoulos, Esquire; Attorneys. You must always have “just” or “good” cause to file for an eviction. Cities or states that have just cause eviction statutes allow landlords or owners to evict a tenant only for certain reasons, such as failure to pay rent or for violation of the lease terms. As a result of this CCA, it now appears that State HFAs may consider the requirements of other programs as well as state or local law, when determining whether or not there was good cause to remove an occupant from a §42 unit. By a unanimous vote, City Council passed tenant protections that require landlords to offer a so-called “good cause” or “just cause” when evicting renters with leases of less than one year. Mandatory Disclosures in Pennsylvania. This bill amends the "Unfair Rental Practices" statutes of the Philadelphia Code found in Section 9-804. Last Thursday, the Tenants Union celebrated a tremendous victory for housing justice in Philadelphia when City Council unanimously voted to pass Good Cause Eviction Legislation. COVID-19 Emergency Tenant Protections Commission Bio's Executive Director FAQ Abuse Protections Law & Resources. The city of Philadelphia implemented a new “Good Clause” Eviction law in 2019. Community Legal Services leads PEPP in collaboration with To learn more, read the articles in the toolkit Eviction and Other Housing Issues and COVID-19.. In 2016, one in 14 renters in Philadelphia were evicted, according to a study by the Reinvestment Fund. Good Cause Eviction Bill Passes Philadelphia City Council: Creates More Questions Than Answers By: Paul Jay Cohen . Evictions are a cause, not an effect of poverty. Watered-Down 'Good Cause' Eviction Law Now Philly Law. For Hayward, these reasons are stated in the Just Cause for Tenant Eviction Ordinance. -See Alabama Judicial System website for more information.-Visit ALtogether to find resources for assistance in Alabama.-Public Service Commission states that it is confident no customers will experience interruption during crisis, and that after crisis period utilities … Commentary Change in Phila. Among the permitted causes for evicting someone is if the landlord intends to make repairs on a unit or raise the rent. To terminate for good cause, a landlord must give the tenant 30 days' notice or the lease will automatically renew for another month. In 2016, the Philadelphia Tenants Union (PTU) announced at its founding convention that the Union was committed to making “Good Cause” eviction protections one of its primary objectives (the other being tenant support at particular apartment buildings). This process also pits neighbor against neighbor. “Say you’ve got a tenant who doesn’t put the trash out, has visitors coming in at all hours of night, making noise, upsetting neighbors; you just give them 30 days' notice and call it a day,” Pinckney said. The most common reason, failure to pay rent, is considered a "just cause," so it's unclear whether the bill would substantially drive down the city's eviction rate. The bill, which City Council passed in early December, amends the Fair Housing Ordinance to require landlords to have a good … This law prevents an owner or landlord from issuing a lease termination or non-renewal without first showing “good cause” for why the lease should be terminated. Then click “Go!” […] The commitment is commonly known as the “extended use agreement.” Late Thursday afternoon City Council members unanimously voted to pass a “good cause” eviction bill, ensuring that landlords would need a viable reason to evict tenants. Good Cause Eviction Bill Passes Philadelphia City Council: Creates More Questions Than Answers. Pennsylvania small claims court will hear rent-related disputes valuing up to $12,000 including eviction cases. If you believe that you are being evicted without a proper notice or “good cause” file a compliant with the Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission within 15 days. The Good Cause Ordinance in its current draft would restrict the reasons a landlord could use for a landlord-fault eviction to just four. “Good Cause Eviction” is a legal policy created to make sure that leases are not terminated by the landlord for illegal reasons such as discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. “Eviction for Cause” means that a landlord must have a reason to evict a tenant. By: Paul Jay Cohen . “Good cause” is defined in City Council’s Bill … The Philadelphia Tenants Union, the principal organization pushing for the bill, cheered the passage of the reduced legislation. The email referenced a draft "Good Cause Eviction" ordinance that Proco Joe Moreno was planning to introduce to the city council this past week. The PTU supports Good Cause because it directly answers Philadelphia’s expanding eviction crisis and provided a solid legal base for future reforms. one in 14 renters had eviction notices filed against them in 2017, California residents do not sell my data request. Good Cause Eviction Protection for Tax Credit Tenants: National Housing Law Project; The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program provides housing for low- to moderate-income renters in exchange for tax credits for the developers. A bill signed into law Tuesday will offer some protections to month-to-month renters in Philadelphia from discriminatory or vindictive evictions. Among the permitted causes for evicting someone is if the landlord intends to make repairs on a unit or raise the rent. They have good cause on their books. Philadelphia courts have different rules and allow small claims cases of any value. Attorney Copoulos successfully defended against a Philadelphia Landlord-Tenant eviction in Municipal Court. JCEO requires that Seattle landlords have just cause reasons to terminate tenancy or evict month-to-month or other periodic tenants (tenants who pay rent weekly or twice a month). Evictions have generational impacts on children, by … Step 5. Some of those evictions were surely because of delinquency on rent or other good cause, but many of them were not. The bill prohibits residential landlords from vacating, renewing or terminating certain leases at their expiration … Habitual non-payment or habitual late-payment of rent (this does not apply if the tenant is legally withholding rent). “To be very frank, I never thought it was going to do much," Cruel said. Grant Phelan; Download PDF . In 2017, City Council, the Mayor and legal services agencies partnered to create the Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project (PEPP), an innovative project to assist tenants facing eviction through legal representation, financial counseling, a live hotline, a court help center, community trainings & educational materials. Most eviction cases are in Municipal Court. “This ‘good cause’ bill is all about making sure landlords aren’t treating renters unfairly,” Mayor Jim Kenney said. Good Cause Eviction. What is PEPP? Home; Our Firm. Wrongly evicted tenants share their testimony to support the "Good Cause" bill at City Hall's Council chambers in February. The draft was written with input from the Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, a group of attorneys that predominantly focuses on defending low income renters in court. Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. also saw it as a guard against displacement in neighborhoods where living costs are rising, and landlords may want to renovate properties and raise rent. A landlord can also evict someone if the intent is to rent the unit to an immediate family member. 4. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Philadelphia enacted the Emergency Housing Protections Act … If you believe that you are being evicted without a proper notice or “good cause” file a compliant with the Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission within 15 days. The “Good Cause Eviction” bill (SB2892/AB5030) protects low-income tenants by requiring landlords to prove to a judge that their eviction case against a tenant is for “good cause.” The proposed legislation also protects tenants from unconscionable rent increases, which are rent increases of more than 1.5 times the annual percentage change in the consumer price index. The landlord must have “good cause” to terminate the tenancy. For leases less than one year, such as a month-to-month lease, your landlord must give you thirty (30) days written notice stating a Good Cause reason to end your lease. Under the proposed new law, a landlord could evict under good cause if the renter hasn’t paid rent, hasn’t followed lease terms, or if there has been property damage, according to PlanPhilly. Tenants living in tax credit buildings have good cause eviction protection statewide. “Philadelphia has many low-income renters and this Good Cause bill is about making sure they have the protections they need so that landlords aren’t treating them unfairly,” Mayor Jim Kenney said in a … Complaint. The content of this article is impacted by COVID-19. Finally, if a tenant is being removed for termination of the term the landlord must provide good cause for termination of the leasehold. ", © 2020 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC Terms of Use/Privacy Policy/California Notice California residents do not sell my data request. Landlord Tenant; … Just cause eviction statutes are laws that protect tenants from eviction for an improper reason. Tenant refuses to agree to a reasonable rent increase or a change in the lease (landlord must provide notice to tenant and opportunity for response). The eviction complaint may be filed simultaneously with giving the tenant notice to vacate. Alert: Philadelphia Good Cause Eviction Ordinance For more info, contact: A. Owner, or an immediate family member of the owner, is going to move into the unit. Breach or non-compliance with a âmaterial termâ of the lease. Mark D. Copoulos; David Bercovitch; David Lehman (of counsel) Practice Areas. “Good Cause Eviction” is a legal policy created to make sure that leases are not terminated by the landlord for illegal reasons such as discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. 02.20.19. Speak with a Landlord Tenant lawyer about protecting your rights when you have nowhere else to go. 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