PENNSYLVANIA, March 18 - PRINTER'S NO. 1517

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

1216

Session of

2026

INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, LAUGHLIN, COSTA, HUGHES, HAYWOOD,

COLLETT, MALONE, TARTAGLIONE, SAVAL, COMITTA, KEARNEY,

SANTARSIERO AND CAPPELLETTI, MARCH 18, 2026

REFERRED TO URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, MARCH 18, 2026

AN ACT

Amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), entitled "An

act relating to the rights, obligations and liabilities of

landlord and tenant and of parties dealing with them and

amending, revising, changing and consolidating the law

relating thereto," in creation of leases, statute of frauds

and mortgaging of leaseholds, providing for residential

rental application fees.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. The act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known

as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, is amended by adding a

section to read:

Section 207. Residential Rental Application Fees.--(a) A

landlord or a landlord's agent may not charge a fee in

connection with an application to enter into a rental agreement

for a residential dwelling unit in an amount greater than the

lesser of:

(1) the actual cost of a background check conducted under

subsection (b); or

(2) fifty dollars ($50).

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