Pro Bono News
Consortium of Legal Aid Wins Over Unbalanced System Between Tenants and Landlords (PA)
Wednesday, February 07, 2018
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Link: https://www.philabarfoundation.org
Consortium of Legal Aid Wins Over Unbalanced System Between Tenants and Landlords
"he Public Interest Law Center has won a legal battle against an unbalanced system which gives landlords disproportional power over tenants.
Philadelphia’s eviction court historically has required regulatory documents such as Certificate of Rental Suitability, a rental license, and if a child under six years of age is present, a lead safety certificate. However, because only three to five percent of low-income residents have the ability to afford attorney representation, the landlords have been able to slide past the system without much of an argument.
Landlords filing to evict a tenant must now provide evidence that they are in compliance with Philadelphia Law by showing the court a certificate of rental suitability along with the complaint. Failure to do so will result in the court reviewing the case themselves, and deciding how much the landlord can legally collect..."