Residents Urge Action on Rental Application Fees; Borough Says State Law Limits Local Regulation

Several residents told the Jan. 13 council meeting that renters in Columbia face repeated nonrefundable application fees, sometimes totaling hundreds of dollars, and asked whether the borough could act to limit the practice.

Resident Stephanie Flynn said her sister spent at least $200 in nonrefundable application fees and asked council to revisit tenant protections discussed last year. Flynn described the financial strain on prospective renters and urged the borough to consider steps that would reduce fees charged before showing units.

Council and staff responded that landlord-tenant law is primarily a state matter and that the borough’s authority to regulate application fees is limited. An official noted that if a landlord collects application fees after a unit has already been rented, that could constitute fraud and the borough is willing to investigate specific complaints. Staff said they would "look into it" and review prior local efforts, including earlier discussions of a ‘slumlord’ ordinance.

Council members encouraged the resident to supply specifics about individual landlords or companies if she wished an investigation. Staff and council also suggested nonregulatory approaches, such as convening landlords for dialogue and improving public information about tenant rights and acceptable landlord practices.

The council did not adopt an ordinance or formal regulation at the meeting; staff committed to research options and report back to council.