State House Introduces Bill to Help Stabilize Rents

State Reps. Jim Prokopiak (D-Bucks) and Nancy Guenst (D-Montgomery) have introduced critical legislation aimed at addressing the growing housing affordability crisis in Pennsylvania.

The bill is one of several initiatives being offered by the PA House Democratic Caucus to mitigate the rising cost of housing and provide relief to both renters and perspective homebuyers across the state.

In Pennsylvania, over 43% of renters are considered rent-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their monthly income on rent. The consequences of this financial strain can be devastating, including an increased risk of eviction, reduced access to health care, and negative developmental impacts on children raised in such households.

“As legislators, we have a duty to protect the wellbeing of our constituents, and that includes ensuring they have access to affordable housing,” Prokopiak said. “This legislation will provide critical protections by instituting reasonable limits on rent increases, ensuring they don’t outpace inflation or wage growth. It’s time for Pennsylvania to take action and adopt solutions that help make our state a more affordable place to live.”

“As housing costs continue to climb, many Pennsylvanians are being priced out of their homes, and that is unacceptable,” Guenst said. “This bill is about fairness and stability, offering a practical solution that would help ensure working families can stay in their homes and afford basic necessities.”

House Bill 914 seeks to establish limits on how much a landlord can raise rent, aligning increases with inflation and wage growth, which would help keep housing affordable for Pennsylvanians. States like California and Oregon have already implemented similar rent stabilization laws with positive results, and Prokopiak and Guenst are hopeful that Pennsylvania will follow suit.

“Rent stabilization is a necessary step in providing security for our residents,” Prokopiak said. “We can no longer allow families to face the growing uncertainty of unaffordable rent increases. This legislation is a critical step in ensuring that every Pennsylvanian has a safe and affordable place to call home.”

Over the last three years, the Bucks County Housing Authority in response to rising rental costs raised its payments standards at least two times to keep with skyrocketing property values for low income individuals and families who have  Section 8 Vouchers, especially with homeless numbers exploding during and after the Coronavirus pandemic, per Bucks County records.

House Bill 914 is currently under consideration in the PA House Housing & Community Development Committee.