Help for low-income renters

In June, Council passed legislation authorizing the city to create an antidisplacement fund for tenants forced to move because inspectors have issued a cease-operations order to their landlord. Such an order is considered an extreme measure and is issued to properties that pose an “immediate danger to life or property.”

Under the bill, tenants are eligible to receive a one-time payment through the fund if they must move because of a negligent property owner or landlord.

The measure, introduced by Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke, initially did not come with any funding. But the first annual budget for the H.O.M.E. initiative now includes more money for the FreshStartPHL program, a move-in assistance effort that will include an antidisplacement fund.

It’s unclear how much of the program’s $4 million budget will go to the fund.

O’Rourke still hopes to pass the rest of the Safe Healthy Homes Act.

That includes an authorization for the city to create a program that conducts proactive inspections of rental properties. Another bill bars landlords from ending or modifying a tenant’s lease simply because that tenant is cooperating with a city investigation, has discussed their living conditions with a council member or reporter, or has joined a tenant organization.

Lawmakers this year also passed two bills meant to help renters during and after their application for a new apartment. Councilmember Rue Landau introduced both measures.

One bill bars landlords from charging an application fee unless the money is used to cover the cost of running a background and/or credit check. And within a 12-month period, they can’t charge someone more than the cost of completing those checks or $50, whichever is less.

The other measure requires some landlords to allow renters to pay a portion of their security deposit in installments — if the deposit is more than one month’s rent. In that case, renters can elect to pay the balance in equal installments over three months.

The bill only applies to landlords with more than two units.

“Wages have not kept up with the rising rents, and that’s why we need to do everything we possibly can to make it easier for tenants to move in, so they’re not stuck in properties that are in poor conditions or living in an unsafe living environment,” Landau said in June.