Photo by Barnabas Davoti on Unsplash
In an effort to combat what he describes as out-of-control fees, PA Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El (D-Lancaster County) has announced he will introduce legislation to cap how much landlords can charge renters with pets.
As rental prices continue to increase in Pennsylvania, pet parents typically face additional financial hurdles, including high pet deposits and monthly pet rent, when looking for a new home. Those extra fees often put an unnecessary burden on Pennsylvanians with pets.
“Even as rent prices continue to outpace income growth, some landlords will charge up-front pet deposits as high as $600 with an additional $700 in pet fees or rent over the term of a lease,” Smith-Wade-El stated in a recent memo.
“In this scenario, a tenant could pay more in pet deposits, fees, and rent in their first year of renting than they paid for their overall rental deposit. This is out of control, and we must step in for the sake of renters across Pennsylvania.”
Smith-Wade-El’s legislation would no longer allow landlords to charge tenants upfront and monthly pet fees, including pet rent. Instead, landlords could impose a monthly pet deposit capped at one percent of the monthly rent. However, the pet deposit charged cannot be more than $500 during the course of the lease.
The Pennsylvania representative points out that, while offering relief to Pennsylvanians with pets, the legislation would also ensure that landlords have funds should pets damage the rental.
Keep track of the proposed legislation.
