HB 558 — An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, in creation of leases, statute of frauds and mortgaging of leaseholds, providing for rental applications.

PRINTER'S NO.    562

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 558
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, CARROLL, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, DONAHUE, GREEN,
        HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, HOWARD, KENYATTA, NEILSON, PIELLI,
        SANCHEZ, WARREN 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 creation of leases, statute of frauds
 6      and mortgaging of leaseholds, providing for rental
 7      applications.
 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 207.    Rental Applications.--(a)   A landlord or the
14   landlord's agent may not charge a rental application fee of more
15   than twenty dollars ($20) to apply to enter into a rental
16   agreement for a residential dwelling unit.
17      (b)   A landlord or the landlord's agent may only use a rental
18   application fee to conduct a background check on the applicant.
19   A background check under this subsection shall include a check
1   of the applicant's criminal history record and credit score.
2      (c)   Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a
3   person from charging a rental application fee to apply to enter
4   into a rental agreement for commercial or nonresidential
5   property.
6      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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