Pittsburgh looks to add protection for renters experiencing domestic violence

Pittsburgh City Council will consider a measure to offer additional protection for renters who face domestic violence in the city.

This bill would require landlords to permit domestic abuse victims to exit their leases early without penalty and would require them to change victims’ locks within five days upon request.

Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, D-Squirrel Hill, is set to introduce the bill Tuesday.

The goal, Strassburger said, is to support domestic abuse victims who may be trying to leave their abusers and to ensure they can “feel safe in their home.”

Pittsburgh already has a law prohibiting discrimination against domestic violence survivors who are purchasing homes or renting housing units, Strassburger said. This bill aims to offer safety for people once they’ve already signed a lease to rent.

“If you are already living in an apartment and you have a rental agreement and you are asking the property owner or landlord to make changes that will help you to retain your safety and security, this clarifies this is mandated now as part of our nondiscrimination ordinance,” Strassburger said. “If they need to change the locks on their apartment door, if they need to terminate a rental before the time is up, they should be able to do so without penalties or fees.”

Megan Confer-Hammond, executive director of the Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh, said there’s a “consistent and constant” stream of domestic abuse victims who struggle with the housing-related issues this legislation is aiming to address.

“This legislation can save their life,” she said. “It has a big impact on the people who exercise its provisions.”

She said she’s helped people who have fled abusive situations, only to be pressured back because leaving would violate a lease. The proposed legislation that would allow people to terminate leases early without worrying about financial penalties could make it easier for people to escape violent situations, she said.

Under the legislation, people would still be required to pay rent while in the unit, but would be able to leave a lease early if they’re escaping a domestic violence situation.

The measure also would require that victims pay for new locks when they have a landlord replace them under the ordinance.

“It’s making sure there’s a net-zero impact to landlords in terms of cost,” she said.

Nicole Molinaro, president and CEO of the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, said she would like to see the requirement that victims pay for the locks to be removed. She said she also would advocate for more funding to help victims of domestic abuse pay for locks and security systems.

The Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh spent over $40,000 last year to assist domestic violence victims in purchasing security measures, like cameras, locks and door or window alarms, Molinaro said.

“There are so many apartments which don’t generally have good security,” she said, explaining that those systems would keep all residents safe and especially help victims of domestic violence.

“When a domestic violence victim is experiencing abuse, 99% of victims experience financial abuse,” she said. “Even though they’re earning a good salary, their funds are limited or they can’t access their funds because of the abuser. The cost for locks and security systems can be really prohibitive.”

Molinaro said the Women’s Center and Shelter often sees people whose abusers break into their homes to threaten them, hurt them or damage their property.

“Home is where we know they can be found,” she said. “If they’re staying at their home and the abuser knows where that home is — which they most often do — that’s a very easy place to find them and cause home. We’ve seen victims of domestic violence killed in their home or their apartment by their abuser.”

This legislation — which Molinaro said is “absolutely critical and can be lifesaving” could help women to be safer with new locks or by relocating to a new address where their abuser won’t be able to find them so easily.

“Breaking a lease is always a concern for a victim who needs to not live in the same place where they’ve been living,” she said. “We’ve seen again and again the need for safe housing for domestic violence survivors.”

The legislation offers victims several ways of showing landlords they are domestic violence victims and in need of this additional protection, because not everyone can get protection from abuse orders or other court documentation, Strassburger said. People also could provide documentation from a licensed health care provider, a licensed mental health care provider, a social worker or a victim advocate.

The measure also prohibits landlords from providing abusers with keys to a rental unit where their victim is staying or letting them into the unit unless a court orders that person has access.

Stephanie Fox, a domestic violence survivor and advocate with Center for Victims, said it’s imperative that people facing domestic abuse have safe housing. When landlords refuse to cooperate with their needs, she said, “it’s revictimizing the victim.”

“Housing is just such a giant step to safety and rebuilding with dignity,” Fox said. “Housing starts the all-inclusive safety package. These issues are very foundational.”

Fox said she’d like to see local officials and advocates also work to find additional options for safe transitional housing and rapid rehousing initiatives to help people escape domestic violence.

Pittsburgh’s Commission on Human Relations will be tasked with enforcing the measure if it’s approved, Strassburger said. The commission will be able to implement fines and other penalties if landlords don’t abide by the new requirements.

The legislation is set to be introduced on Tuesday. Council could discuss it and take a preliminary vote as early as next week, with a final vote as soon as the following week.

City Council in 2021 passed a measure that prohibits employers from discriminating against workers who are victims of domestic violence.