Bill > HB2125

This bill, amending the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, establishes new rights for tenants, particularly those in rental homes, by outlining specific reasons for eviction, such as nonpayment of rent or repeated violations of community rules within a six-month period, and prohibiting "self-help" evictions. It mandates that landlords provide written notice via certified or registered mail for lease violations, specifying timelines for rent payment or correction of breaches, and requires that rules be uniformly applied and not selectively enforced. The bill also mandates comprehensive written disclosure of all fees, utility charges, and rent increase explanations to prospective and current tenants before lease execution or rent increases, and prohibits charging fees for overnight guests unless they become permanent residents. Furthermore, it requires landlords to provide notice to residents and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) of any sale or closure of a rental home community, with specific timelines and notification procedures, and grants tenants the right to terminate leases without penalty if a community is closed. Importantly, any attempt to waive these tenant rights in an agreement is declared void, and tenants are empowered to pursue legal action for damages, including treble damages in certain cases, and to seek injunctive relief for violations, with the Attorney General responsible for enforcement. The bill also presumes retaliatory evictions if a landlord takes action against a tenant within six months of the tenant asserting their rights.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb2125