Bill > HB24

This bill establishes the Off-Campus Student Housing Tenant Rights Act, which aims to protect and educate students about their housing rights when renting off-campus. The bill requires the Pennsylvania Department of Education to create and distribute a student bill of rights to all institutions of higher education, which must then provide this document to each enrolled student. The bill of rights includes seven key rights for students: living in a habitable dwelling, maintaining residential privacy, receiving a hearing before eviction, obtaining a writ of possession prior to eviction, requesting reasonable accommodations for disabilities, having visitor rights, and accessing utilities. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of an online certification course that educates students about their tenant rights under federal, state, and local laws, including actions to take when experiencing unsafe housing. Institutions of higher education must ensure all new students complete this course, and they may be charged up to $50 if they fail to do so. Institutions can also create their own version of the course, provided they submit it to the department for review. The act will take effect on January 1, 2026, or immediately, whichever is later, signaling a commitment to improving student housing experiences and protecting their rights.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=24