Philadelphia landlords are being severely impacted by the moratorium extension. The  moratorium is in place to protect the rights of tenants that were impacted financially by Covid. Many Landlords and tenants throughout Philadelphia are working together to workout payment plans. The media has a plethora of resources available that offer relief to tenants and the courts will not hear eviction cases. At the same time the City of Philadelphia continues to impose laws that have adverse financial impacts on landlords.

Several new rules were put in place within the past few months alone that require payments from landlords. This year alone, trash pickup prices increased for multi unit properties by 67% with no warning. Landlords must now have a lead test on every property every four years. Landlords are now required to provide bed bug addendums and possible costly treatments for new tenants coming into a property.  Landlords are now required to pay a late fee for rental licenses that are not renewed on time. Landlords are not given a discount for paying their taxes early. Yet, landlords in Philadelphia are forced to house criminals and squatters that are taking advantage of the current  landlords’ inability to have them evicted. There is no  plan for relief available to landlords that are faced with these issues.

Philadelphia landlords want city council members and leaders to enforce protections for landlords from the predatory behavior of the squatters and criminals that are taking advantage of the moratorium extensions. The Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution reads as follows: “Nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” Landlords want  lockouts to commence!