Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility House passes Cephas measure to protect homeowners from unfair realty agreements

House passes Cephas measure to protect homeowners from unfair realty agreements

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    May 7, 2025 | 2:35 PM

HARRISBURG, May 7 – Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation sponsored by state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., that would protect Pennsylvania homeowners from signing away their home and generational wealth to unscrupulous realty agents.

House Bill 986 would provide transparency in transactions and prohibit unfair realty agreements, such as those which may make it difficult for homeowners to refinance or transfer their property or face penalties for listing with a different agent. Agreements deemed unlawful by the bill that include certain forbidden contents would be rendered unenforceable and in violation of the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act.

Cephas said that this is a commonsense consumer protection measure which would benefit older Pennsylvanians in particular.

“Although anyone can fall prey to these scams, older people are too often targeted by dishonest brokers, and they may not know the restrictions they’ve signed onto until it’s too late and many years later.

“Homeownership is a key to building generational wealth for many families. My bill would help protect that investment and ensure that folks are not deceived into signing away the capital they’ve spent their life and career building for the misleading promise of short-term gain.”

This legislation is part of Cephas’ efforts to address housing issues in Pennsylvania and strengthen protections for homeowners.

“Housing is a human right and all across our commonwealth affordable housing is in need, people are losing their homes because of deceitful agents and practices, and the barriers to first-time homebuyers are staggering. As a member of the House Housing and Community Development Committee, the chair of the Subcommittee on Housing Finance in the House Commerce Committee, and the chair of the Philadelphia House Delegation, I’m laser focused on finding solutions to housing concerns for all Pennsylvanians.”

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.