❗ The Problem
Across Pennsylvania and the U.S., tenants are regularly subjected to one-sided rental agreements where landlords hold all the power. Lease contracts are often presented as non-negotiable, leaving renters with a “take it or leave it” choice. This imbalance creates serious consumer rights issues.

💬 What’s Wrong with Current Lease Practices?
Non-negotiable lease terms: Renters have virtually no say in lease conditions, making rental agreements functionally similar to public contracts — but without consumer protections.
Forced purchases of unrelated services: Landlords increasingly require tenants to buy renters' insurance, internet, pest control, and other services from specific providers — often at inflated rates. These are not core to the lease and should not be mandatory.
Administrative and processing fees: Tenants are routinely charged:

“Application fees” for each family member
“Administrative fees” or “move-in fees”
“Convenience fees” for online payments
These are operating costs of doing business and should not be offloaded onto renters.

🔍 Why It Matters
🏛️ Consumer laws in other sectors prohibit companies from bundling products and forcing purchases — why is rental housing an exception?
⚖️ The power imbalance is systemic. In most cities, rental housing is dominated by large landlords and property management firms that offer standard, pre-written contracts.
🧾 Hidden fees increase housing insecurity. For lower-income families, these extra charges can be the difference between affording housing or not.
🌆 Other cities and states are acting. California, Seattle, and New York have begun regulating “junk fees” and banning forced service bundling in housing.

✅ What We’re Asking For
We urge lawmakers to pass legislation that:

Recognizes residential leases as consumer contracts, subject to fair practices laws.
Prohibits landlords from requiring tenants to purchase third-party services (insurance, internet, pest control, etc.) as a condition of tenancy.
Bans administrative and application fees not directly tied to tenant benefits or regulated by local ordinances.
Establishes enforceable guidelines for transparent and negotiable lease agreements.

✍️ Sign and Share
Tenants deserve fairness, transparency, and basic consumer protections.
Sign this petition to demand action and end exploitative rental practices.