HB 607 — An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, in preliminary provisions, providing for effect of declaration of disaster emergency; and imposing a penalty.

PRINTER'S NO.    615

                        THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                            HOUSE BILL
                            No. 607
                                                  Session of
                                                    2025

     INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, DONAHUE, GREEN, HILL-
        EVANS, KHAN, KINKEAD, O'MARA, OTTEN AND WAXMAN,
        FEBRUARY 12, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
        FEBRUARY 12, 2025


                                       AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the rights, obligations and liabilities of
 3      landlord and tenant and of parties dealing with them and
 4      amending, revising, changing and consolidating the law
 5      relating thereto," in preliminary provisions, providing for
 6      effect of declaration of disaster emergency; and imposing a
 7      penalty.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10         Section 1.    The act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known
11   as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, is amended by adding a
12   section to read:
13         Section 106.    Effect of Declaration of Disaster Emergency.--
14   (a)    It shall be unlawful for a landlord to do any of the
15   following during a disaster emergency declared by the Governor
16   under 35 Pa.C.S. § 7301(c) (relating to general authority of
17   Governor):
18         (1)   Evict or attempt to evict a tenant unemployed, separated
19   from employment or unable to find employment as a result of the
 1   declaration of disaster emergency.
 2      (2)   Without the express consent of the tenant, enter the
 3   leased premises for purposes of showing the premises to
 4   prospective buyers or tenants.
 5      (b)   A landlord found to be in violation of this section
 6   shall be subject to a penalty of not less than five hundred
 7   dollars ($500) per occurrence.
 8      (c)   This section shall apply only to residential leaseholds
 9   and not to commercial leaseholds.
10      Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.




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