KITCHEN DEMANDS ZONING ENFORCEMENT OF OVERCROWDED RENTAL HOMES

            PHILADELPHIA, August 1: State Sen. Shirley Kitchen today demanded that the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspection (L&I) enforce their own zoning codes in several local neighborhoods, where she says landlords are violating the city’s zoning laws in order to rent houses to students.

            “The Department of Licenses and Inspections is ignoring a growing problem,” said Kitchen (D-Philadelphia). “While it’s completely legal to rent to students, landlords can’t simply cram as many students as possible into a house. The L&I Zoning Board is supposed to keep landlords in check, but it’s not doing its job.  This is unfair to law-abiding homeowners who must live on the same block as these zoning violators.”

            Kitchen joined a group of residents on Thursday in the Yorktown community to protest. Residents in the Yorktown, Jefferson Manor and People’s Village/Nelson Brown communities —located just blocks from Temple University — argue that houses that are designated as a “single family dwelling” are illegally being turned into student housing.

            The group gathered in front of two houses that are currently occupied by more than four students, and demanded immediate action. The residents plan to continue the protests until L&I issues proper permits.

            Residents would like L&I to enforce the existing housing codes and take violators to court to get the proper permits, or not turn these homes into student boarding.

            According to L&I’s Zoning Code, a single housing unit can only have up to three unrelated occupants living together.

            However, residents argue that individuals are purchasing homes in their neighborhoods and renting out to more than three students per home.

            “These landlords are violating the zoning code and L&I, despite receiving numerous complaints from residents, is not intervening and enforcing the code,” Kitchen said.