County Council
New protections available for renters against landlord retaliation.
Allegheny County renters who organize or report housing problems are now protected from landlord retaliation. On March 24, council approved the ordinance, and it took effect when the county executive signed it March 27. Still, the county's housing standards code covers only lead and asbestos, under certain conditions. Next, a council member said she'll start the process of adding mold.
Written by Amy Whipple
Residential tenants in Allegheny County now have stronger protections against landlord retaliation.
County Council approved an ordinance at its March 24 meeting to supplement the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951. The act allows residential tenants the right to pursue healthy and safe housing conditions through actions such as withholding rent.
The county ordinance, which was signed by County Executive Sara Innamorato on March 27, protects tenants’ rights to organize, speak publicly about their housing conditions and report those conditions to government agencies and offices without landlord retaliation. The legislation took effect immediately when the Innamorato signed it.
“There are just so many ways that people are abused in this system,” said Kathleen Madonna-Emmerling of Moon. According to the ordinance, there are approximately 161,000 renter-occupied households in Allegheny County.
Retaliation includes terminating, refusing to renew, or modifying a lease because a tenant participated in a protected activity. It does not include filing a civil action against a tenant with “clear and convincing evidence” that filing is not an act of retaliation.
“This ordinance just is the tip of the iceberg,” said Council Member DeWitt Walton of the Hill District. “We have to build a broader strategy on how we’re going to ensure quality housing for all residents of Allegheny County.”
Council Member Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis of Plum, who chairs the health department’s Housing Advisory Committee, said she will begin the process of amending the housing standards code to include mold. Currently, the code only covers lead and asbestos under certain conditions.
Connections to this story
- Elected officials:
- Michelle Naccarati-ChapkisDeWitt Walton
- Local issues:
- Tenants versus problem landlords
- Governments:
- County Council
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