Title
Amending Section 9-804 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Unfair Rental Practices," to require good cause for certain residential evictions and to provide for a first option for existing tenants to renew a lease, all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Section 9-804 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
ยง 9-804. Unfair Rental Practices.
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(12) Good cause required.
(a) No owner, landlord, agent or other person operating or managing any residential premises, upon expiration of a lease of less than one year, shall issue a notice to vacate, notice of non-renewal, or notice to terminate the lease, unless (1) the landlord has good cause not to renew the lease; and (2) the landlord provides the tenant with notice pursuant to subparagraph (c), below. For purposes of this subsection (12)(a), good cause shall include, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(.1) Habitual non-payment or habitual late payment of rent by the tenant.
(.2) Breach of or non-compliance with a material term of the tenant's lease or rental agreement.
(.3) The tenant engages in nuisance activity that creates a substantial interference with the use, comfort or enjoyment of the property by the landlord or other tenants in the building; or that substantially affects the health or safety of the landlord or other tenants in the building.
(.4) The tenant causes substantial deterioration of the property beyond normal wear and tear.
(.5) The tenant, after written notice to cease, refuses the landlord access to the unit for lawful purposes, such as to make repairs or assess the need for repairs, to inspect the premises for damages, to show the premises to insurance or mortgage companies, or during an emergency.
(.6) The tenant refuses to execute an extension of a written lease, that is set to expire, for materially the same t...
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