Philadelphia Bedbug Ordinance for all Landlords

[Yuriy Skripnichenko]

Hi all, 

In addition to all that we already have to provide to tenants:

Landlords entering into leases that commence January 2021 and later will be required to provide a bedbug informational brochure to tenants. According to L&I you will be able to find the brochure under resources on the L&I website. Which I didn't find yet. 

The landlord must also develop a written bedbug control plan.

When a tenant reports that there are bedbugs in a rental unit, the landlord must have the unit inspected by a pest control professional within 10 days. If there are bedbugs present, the landlord must hire a pest control professional to treat the unit until the bedbugs are gone and must provide monitoring for 12 months.

Cheers, 

Yuriy 

[Kevin M.]

Yes to clarify, for any new leases or renewals after January 1st 2021 the landlord must;

1. Provide to the tenant an informational notice regarding bed bugs (not available yet of course)
2. Develop, maintain and follow a 'bed bug control plan' and
3. Provide to the tenant a written disclosure of the history of bed bug infestation and remediation history for the dwelling unit for the previous 120 days.

Like many local regulations- If a landlord does not comply with the above, the tenant’s rent will be abated. Not only will the tenant not have to pay ongoing rent, but any rent already paid by the tenant during the period of noncompliance must be refunded.

I would imagine 95% or so of Philadelphia rental properties will be non-compliant with Philadelphia regulations in one way or another by the end of next year (bed bug, lead, CRS, rental license, zoning, Partners in Good Housing, EHPA notices, Good Cause, CLIP, maintenance code, etc). Becoming a professional tenant may be one of the hottest new gigs in Philly...