PLEASE NOTE: THIS HEARING IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 4TH AT 10:00 AM IN ROOM 400 AT CITY HALL.
Philadelphia City Council is advancing the Safe Healthy Homes legislative package, a set of amended bills that would significantly alter rental housing rules related to eviction standards, licensing, inspections, and compliance.
The bills will be presented at a public hearing on Tuesday, February 10th at 10:00 a.m. at City Hall, Room 400. Industry groups are closely reviewing the proposals due to their potential operational and financial impact on housing providers across the city.
Hearing details and participation
City Council has limited the hearing to two and a half hours, with each testifying speaker allotted approximately two to three minutes.
Housing providers are strongly encouraged to testify in person and ensure their perspectives are part of the public record. Anyone willing to testify should email hapcooffice@hapcophiladelphia.com with their name, email address, and phone number. Participation is open to both members and non-members.
For additional background, housing providers are encouraged to watch a briefing video in which Paul Cohen, Esq. explains the amended bills and outlines what each provision could mean for rental property owners and the broader community.
Council proposals under consideration
The primary provisions of Bill Nos. 250329 and 250330 include:
- Expanding good-cause eviction protections to all tenancies, rather than limiting them to leases under one year
- Requiring rent abatement when a rental license or Certificate of Rental Suitability is missing, suspended, or not provided to the tenant
- Mandating that landlords notify tenants of any L&I violation or licensing issue
- Authorizing a proactive inspection program
- Shifting the burden of proof onto rental property owners to establish compliance
Stakeholders note that the existing good-cause eviction framework was the result of prior negotiations among landlord organizations, tenant advocates, and City Council, and they question whether the proposed expansion and abatement provisions align with established legal precedent.
Licensing, inspections, and enforcement concerns
Operators have raised concerns that licensing delays caused by administrative backlogs, tax processing errors, or system issues such as eCLIPSE could expose owners to rent abatement and enforcement actions unrelated to property conditions.
Misapplied tax payments have historically delayed license issuance for six months or longer. Under the proposed bills, such delays could result in significant revenue disruption. In one case, rent abatement tied to a tax record error could have exceeded $400,000, potentially bankrupting ownership.
Industry feedback also calls for:
- Licenses to be treated as effective upon application
- Minor violations not to block license issuance
- A clear and predictable pathway to reinstate suspended or revoked licenses
- Opportunities to cure violations or complete appeals before enforcement actions take effect
Why landlord input matters
Tenant advocacy groups regularly share their experiences with lawmakers. It is equally important that elected officials hear directly from individual landlords and housing providers about the real-world challenges of operating rental housing under existing and proposed rules.
Housing providers are encouraged to document specific issues they have encountered and email them directly to Cade.Underwood@phila.gov, Director of Legislation and Policy in the Office of Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke. Please CC hapcooffice@hapcophiladelphia.com on your message.
The more firsthand examples lawmakers receive, the better they can understand the operational, legal, and financial consequences of these proposals. Your voice matters, and participation can influence how these bills move forward.