Safe Healthy Homes Law

What is the Safe Healthy Homes legislation?

Philadelphia has enacted two new laws that substantially change certain landlord and tenant requirements. Bill 250329-AA focuses primarily on rental licensing, Certificates of Rental Suitability (CRS), code violations, tenant notifications, and enforcement. Bill 250330-AA addresses good-cause lease termination, retaliation, tenant organizing, harassment, and habitability rights. Both laws are scheduled to take effect November 1, 2026. 

For Philadelphia landlords and property managers, the practical takeaway is that rental-license and property-condition compliance will become even more important. Owners should review their licenses, open L&I violations, Certificates of Rental Suitability, tenant notices, and lease-renewal procedures before the effective date.

If you are interested in learning about a new technology platform designed specifically for Philadelphia landlords and property managers that brings critical property information together in one place, giving property owners and managers a clear view of what is happening across their portfolio, go to Nomosre.com

• Will I need to change how I manage my rental properties?

  Yes. The new requirements create additional responsibilities involving rental licenses, tenant notices, Certificates of Rental Suitability, code violations, and documentation. The legislation also strengthens tenant remedies when landlords fail to comply with applicable requirements. 

  Landlords should therefore consider establishing a regular compliance process rather than treating licensing and inspections as one-time requirements. A property-by-property review of licenses, violations, CRS documentation, required notices, and expiration dates can help identify problems before they affect your ability to operate the property.

• What happens if my property has an outstanding L&I violation?

  The new law places greater emphasis on resolving certain outstanding violations. In particular, the legislation addresses situations involving unsafe, unfit, imminently dangerous, and certain Fire Code violations, and can affect a landlord's ability to obtain or renew a rental license. 

  Landlords should not assume that an old violation is harmless simply because it has been on the property record for a long time. Review your property's L&I history, determine whether violations have actually been corrected and closed, and retain documentation showing when repairs were completed and when compliance was confirmed.

• What is changing with the Certificate of Rental Suitability (CRS)?

  The CRS becomes an even more important part of rental-property compliance. Under the new requirements, a tenant can request an updated CRS once every 90 days, and the landlord generally has 10 days to provide the requested certificate. The CRS provided in response must meet the requirements established by the new law. 

  This means landlords and property managers should know where their current CRS documentation is and have a process for responding quickly to tenant requests. Maintaining accurate records of CRS documents, rental licenses, L&I violations, repairs, and inspections can become especially important if a property is later involved in a dispute.

• Do I have to give tenants a copy of my rental license?

  Yes. The new law establishes additional tenant-notification requirements relating to rental licenses. The City describes the Safe Healthy Homes law as increasing landlord accountability and transparency, and the legislation includes requirements concerning delivery or posting of rental-license information. 

  Landlords should develop a standard procedure for providing required license information to tenants and retaining proof that the information was delivered. This is particularly important for owners with multiple properties, because a missed notice at one property can create a separate compliance issue.

• What happens if my rental license is suspended?

  A license suspension is a serious compliance issue under the new framework. The law includes requirements concerning notice of a license suspension and establishes additional consequences associated with operating without the required licensing. 

  Landlords should immediately determine why the license was suspended, correct the underlying problem, and document the steps taken to restore compliance. Property managers should also have a system for monitoring license status rather than waiting for a tenant or L&I to identify the problem.

• Can a tenant request my property's L&I information?

  The new legislation increases transparency concerning property conditions and code compliance. Among other requirements, landlords may need to provide or post information concerning certain unsafe, unfit, imminently dangerous, and Fire Code violations, including information about required correction dates. 

  For landlords, this makes it increasingly important to maintain an organized property compliance file. Keep copies of violation notices, repair documentation, permits where applicable, inspection results, appeals, and evidence that violations were corrected.

• Can I still collect rent if my property has serious violations?

  Philadelphia already has restrictions concerning rent collection when a landlord does not meet applicable rental-license and Certificate of Rental Suitability requirements. The new legislation further clarifies and strengthens these requirements and provides additional tenant remedies. 

  Because the consequences can involve rent recovery, damages, and attorney's fees, landlords should treat unresolved serious violations as a financial and legal risk—not simply as a maintenance issue. If you discover a potentially disqualifying violation, consider obtaining legal advice regarding the property's specific circumstances.

• What is changing regarding lease renewals?

  One of the significant changes involves good-cause protections. The new law expands good-cause requirements beyond the current limited application so that additional tenants will have protections when a landlord seeks to end a tenancy. 

  Landlords should therefore review their lease-renewal and non-renewal procedures before November 1. Notices should clearly document the applicable reason for ending a tenancy and comply with the required notice period. Because individual circumstances can affect whether a particular reason qualifies as good cause, landlords should consult qualified legal counsel when terminating or refusing to renew a tenancy.

• What qualifies as "good cause" for ending a tenancy?

  The legislation identifies circumstances that can constitute good cause, including certain failures to pay rent, material lease violations, nuisances or threats to health and safety, refusal of lawful access, certain rent increases, owner occupancy, and major renovations. 

  The new rules also establish specific notice requirements and procedures surrounding a tenant's ability to challenge a termination. Landlords should document the factual basis for a termination and retain supporting records such as payment histories, lease violations, notices, inspection records, and communications.

• How much notice must I give a tenant when ending a lease?

  The new good-cause requirements establish different notice periods depending on the length of the lease. The Public Interest Law Center's summary states that leases of one year or more generally require 60 days' notice, while leases of less than one year generally require 30 days' notice, subject to the specific requirements of the law. 

  Landlords should avoid relying solely on an automated lease-management system or a standard notice template until their procedures have been reviewed for compliance with the new law. The reason for termination, timing, lease term, and method of notice can all matter.

• Can I enter a tenant's property without notice?

  The new law strengthens tenant protections concerning access and harassment. The Public Interest Law Center's FAQ identifies a 24-hour notice requirement before entering a tenant's unit, subject to applicable circumstances and exceptions. 

  Landlords and property managers should establish a consistent written-access policy for inspections, repairs, maintenance, and other permitted entries. Documenting the date, reason for entry, notice provided, and tenant communications can help prevent misunderstandings and provide an important compliance record.

• Can a landlord be accused of retaliation?

  Yes. The new law expands the circumstances that can constitute retaliation against a tenant. The legislation addresses retaliation related to tenant complaints, organizing, communications with government officials, testimony, and other protected activities. 

  Landlords should make sure that legitimate business decisions—such as non-renewal, rent changes, enforcement of lease provisions, or property access—are properly documented and supported by legitimate reasons. Consistent application of policies across tenants can also help reduce the risk of a retaliation dispute.

• What are the new tenant-organizing rules?

  The legislation establishes protections for lawful tenant-organizing activities. Landlords generally cannot interfere with lawful organizing activities and must engage in good-faith communication with tenant associations under the circumstances described by the law. 

  Property owners and managers should make sure that employees, maintenance personnel, and property managers understand these requirements. A standardized policy for handling tenant meetings, organizers, literature, and communications can help avoid accidental violations.

• Can a tenant sue a landlord for violating these requirements?

  The legislation expands enforcement mechanisms and provides additional remedies in certain circumstances. The Public Interest Law Center's FAQ identifies statutory damages of $1,000 per violation plus attorney's fees for certain violations. 

  For landlords, this makes documentation and compliance particularly important. A good property-management system should allow you to demonstrate when a license was obtained, when a violation was received, when repairs were completed, when an inspection occurred, and when required notices or certificates were provided.

• What should Philadelphia landlords do before November 1, 2026?

  Start by reviewing every rental property for license status, outstanding L&I violations, CRS status, inspection history, and required tenant documentation. Make sure you know which properties have unresolved issues and establish a process for addressing them before they become a larger compliance problem. The City has specifically advised landlords to prepare for the law's November 1 effective date. 

  Landlords should also review their lease-renewal, tenant-notice, property-access, repair, and recordkeeping procedures. This is a good time to conduct a portfolio-wide compliance audit rather than waiting until a tenant, L&I, or an attorney identifies a problem.

• If I already have a valid rental license and a violation is reported against my property, how will the City de-activate/revoke my license if not fixed within period provided

  It is not clear how the city will “deactivate/revoke” a rental license if a violation has not been complied for an active rental license

• If I get a L&I violation, am I required to let the tenant know?

  Starting November 1, if L&I sends you a violation notice that says either:

  • the property or a unit is unsafe, unfit or imminently dangerous, or

  • the property violates the Fire Code,

  then you have to let the affected tenants know. Tenants don't have to ask. It's on you.

  How you tell them. Any one of these works:

  • post a copy of the notice somewhere on the property where those tenants will clearly see it, or

  • hand it to them, or

  • send it by first-class mail.

  You also have to share any later inspection reports or appeals on that violation.

  When. At least 24 hours before the repair deadline printed on the violation notice.

  The exception. If you fully fix the problem within the time L&I gives you, you don't have to tell tenants at all. That gives landlords a real reason to fix things fast.

  Appeal results. If you appeal certain violations, you have 7 days from receiving the result to post it or deliver it to the affected tenants.

  Why it matters for your clients. Each missed notice can be its own violation. Tenants can sue under this law, for $1,000 per violation or their actual damages, whichever is more, plus attorney's fees. 

• What should landlords be doing now to ensure they have a communication formalized with their tenants (and to be in compliance with the new law)?

  There are 3 types of allowable non-digital communications accepted by the new law as follows

  1. Post a copy of the notice somewhere on the property where those tenants will clearly see it, or

  2. Hand it to them, or

  3. Send it by first-class mail.

  If you currently/intend to use email to communicate to your tenants, you are required to first have a consent form signed by your tenant to approve email as the form of communication.  Unless you have a consent form signed, email is not an acceptable form of communication under the new law.  If you wish to receive a consent form, please email us back and we can send you a draft for your attorney to review.