Pennsylvania Could Potentially Be the Next State to Automatically Seal Eviction Records - Key Points Explained
In a bid to improve housing opportunities for renters across Pennsylvania, particularly in urban centres like Philadelphia, a bill has been introduced to automatically seal certain eviction records. The legislation, proposed by State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, aims to reduce the stigma and barriers that renters face due to past eviction filings.
The bill, which recently passed the Pennsylvania House by a narrow margin in late June 2025, proposes that eviction cases that did not result in a lockout be immediately sealed from public view, along with cases where the judge ruled in favour of the tenant. For eviction cases that did result in a lockout, the records would be automatically sealed after seven years.
If passed, the courts would immediately shield from public view cases where a judge ruled in favour of the tenant, providing relief to renters like Taysha, a longtime Philadelphia renter whose eviction filing was a mistake made by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, causing her to owe more than $7,000 in back rent. Despite the case being withdrawn by her landlord, it remains on her record, hindering her ability to rent new homes.
Taysha's eviction filing has prevented her from finding suitable housing for months, and she fears potential landlords will automatically reject her application. She is not alone in this struggle. Renters with an eviction record often face difficulty finding suitable housing and are relegated to substandard housing for years.
The bill, if passed, would significantly benefit tens of thousands of renters across Pennsylvania, including those in cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as well as in suburban and rural areas with high eviction rates. By sealing these eviction records, tenants would face fewer barriers when seeking safe and affordable housing.
However, opponents argue that sealing eviction records could make it harder for landlords to vet applicants properly, potentially leading to stricter tenant screening standards. Despite these concerns, housing advocates believe the bill would help tenants struggling to find safe and habitable homes due to past eviction filings.
The measure would affect renters in urban centers like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as well as in smaller suburban and rural communities. If passed, Pennsylvania would become one of 11 jurisdictions in the country that automatically seal eviction records in some capacity.
The bill's future is uncertain as it faces intense budget negotiations with Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration. Taysha and thousands of others like her hope that Pennsylvania lawmakers will pass a bill to automatically seal eviction records, giving them and many others the chance at living in a habitable home in the community of their choice.
[1] [https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local/philadelphia/article_9b79d786-b2bb-586a-b839-4e073318224e.html] [2] [https://www.inquirer.com/news/politics/pennsylvania-eviction-records-bill-20250622.html] [3] [https://www.whyy.org/articles/pennsylvania-house-passes-bill-to-seal-eviction-records-but-its-future-is-uncertain/]
- This bill, aiming to improve housing opportunities, falls under the category of policy-and-legislation and is a significant part of politics, as it seeks to address the issue of renters facing stigma and barriers due to past eviction filings.
- The passing of this bill, if successful in overcoming budget negotiations, could lead to general news stories about tenants in cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh finding it easier to secure safe and affordable housing due to the sealing of eviction records, reducing the barriers they currently face.
