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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	March 10, 2022 03:25 PM
From:	Senator John I. Kane and Sen. Amanda M. Cappelletti
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Protections for Older and Disabled Tenants

Various federal and state laws prohibit landlords from discriminating against aging adults and people with disabilities. In some circumstances, housing providers are legally required to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. However, often tenants need more modifications to their rental unit than the landlord can reasonably provide, necessitating a relocation.   When an individual is unable to safely remain in their rental unit and needs to relocate to a facility with the services and accommodations they need, they are often unable to break their rental lease without penalty. Our laws do not address the need to allow tenants to break their lease in these situations. Our offices were contacted by a constituent who is the power of attorney for an individual in the difficult situation of having to incur significant penalties for breaking a lease when his landlord was unable to make the significant modifications required to allow him to safely remain in the unit.   We will soon introduce legislation that will allow a tenant who is older or disabled to break their lease without penalty when they are unable to safely remain in their home. Please join us in this effort to relieve tenants in this situation from this unnecessary burden.

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