Doug Shimell

Philadelphia’s district councilmembers are the gatekeepers for their districts.

And in many cases, those “gatekeepers” are using their absolute authority, known as “councilmanic prerogative” keep city-owned lots from becoming affordable housing.

It’s the likely outgrowth of the recent fatal fire in a Philadelphia Housing Authority apartment building in Fairmount.

Hapco Philadelphia is monitoring developments at City Hall.

Being a rental property owner in Philadelphia can feel like an inside baseball struggle over too much city regulation, fees, and costs.

And while Hapco Philadelphia is fighting to keep affordable rental housing alive in the city, more and more out-of-towners want to move here.

If you thought finding affordable rental housing in Philadelphia is tough, try finding it in Phoenix.

Rents there were raised 30-percent in 2021 and are expected to rise another 20-percent in 2022.

Hapco Philadelphia has been warning for years about the demise of affordable rental housing in Philadelphia.

Endless city laws, regulations, fees and costs have driven rental property owners out of the market.  And that’s not to mention a pandemic eviction moratorium and a shortage of emergency rent relief funds.

Even so, Hapco Philadelphia members provide the majority of affordable rental properties in the city.

Hapco President Greg Wertman says the City of Philadelphia is making it tougher to be a rental property owner.

But HP and its lobbyists are succeeding in getting the politicians to realize what they’re doing to the folks who provide the city’s affordable rental housing.