Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Tenant Protections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Allegheny County Council approves anti-retaliation tenant ordinance after extensive public testimony
Summary
After hours of public comment from tenants and legal advocates about mold, infestations and nonrenewals, Allegheny County Council approved ordinance 13863-26 to protect renters from retaliation by landlords; the measure passed following committee recommendation.
Allegheny County Council approved a countywide residential anti-retaliation ordinance (13863-26) after multiple residents and legal advocates described unsafe housing conditions and fears of retaliatory evictions that deter tenants from reporting problems.
The council acted on a recommendation from the Committee on Housing and Homelessness, which met on March 17 and returned the ordinance for second reading. Council member Michelle Hallam introduced the committee report and moved for approval. Speakers during the public-comment period urged passage: tenants described problems including mold, rodents, repeated property-manager turnover, elevator failures and prolonged power outages. Dave Breingan, executive director of Lawrenceville United and a Sharpsburg borough council member, recounted a local ordinance’s success and said a countywide measure would “provide at least some extra peace of mind” to tenants across the county. Several tenants gave firsthand accounts of abandonment of repairs and fear of eviction after complaints.
Legal advocates emphasized how fear of retaliation undermines enforcement. Brooke Cristy, staff attorney at Fair Shake, said the burden to prove retaliation is high and that the ordinance “will shift some of the burden onto the landlord so that we can have a more fair court process.” Bob Damewood of Regional Housing Legal Services explained that because much enforcement is complaint-driven, tenants who fear losing housing are unlikely to report hazardous conditions; the ordinance would require landlords to show a legally valid, nonarbitrary reason for adverse actions taken after a tenant asserted rights.
Council deliberations noted the ordinance does not solve all housing stock problems but provides additional recourse for tenants. After discussion, Council took a roll-call vote and approved the ordinance; the transcript records the outcome as approved with an 11-yes majority and two abstentions.
The ordinance now awaits implementation details and any necessary administrative steps. Supporters in the meeting urged follow-up actions, including adding mold explicitly to enforceable environmental toxicants for the Health Department and continuing efforts to ensure tenants can report unsafe conditions without fear of displacement.
The council adjourned after completing the night's business.
