Housing
PLA's legal services help clients stay in their homes. We advise thousands of homeowners each year about what they need to do to avoid losing their homes to mortgage foreclosure or real estate tax foreclosure. In a limited number of cases, we defend mortgage foreclosure cases in court or represent clients in Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.
Clients who rent from a private landlord, or live in public housing, or have problems with public utilities should contact Community Legal Services instead of PLA.
Categories Within Housing
How to get help with Housing
The following departments at PLA provide legal assistance with Housing:
Self-Help Resources
Philadelphia Legal Assistance and Community Legal Services partnered to bring homeowners and tenants resources during the pandemic. The downloadable powerpoints include:
Information on the COVID 19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program and how to apply
Information on the Pandemic Mortgage Assistance Program and how to apply
Protections for renters and homeowners during the pandemic
How to get help if you are facing eviction or foreclosure
Asistencia con su hipoteca durante el COVID-19
Los propietarios de Filadelfia con preguntas individuales deben llamar a la línea directa de Save Your Home Philly de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m. de lunes a viernes al 215-334-4663.
How to Get Help with your Mortgage During COVID-19
Philadelphia homeowners with individual questions should call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday- Friday at 215-334-4663.
Community Legal Services offers legal information, advice and/or representation in the following areas:
- Foreclosure (when the bank or the city sells your home at sheriff sale because you did not make your mortgage or real estate tax payments)
- Forfeiture (when the government takes your home because the property was used for drug activity)
- Home Repair
- Inheritance
- Licenses and Inspections
- Mortgages
- Neighbor Disputes
- Property Taxes
- Rent-To-Own Agreements (when you agree with a landlord that you will own your property after renting it for a period of time, also known as installment sales agreements)
- Reverse Mortgages (mortgages for seniors that allow them to receive payments instead of making payments -- this is for seniors whose home is worth much more than they still owe)
- Landlord-Tenant Private Housing
- Subsidized Housing (Section 8, Philadelphia Housing Authority)
