Levittown State Representative Introduces Bill To Tackle High Rents

A Levittown-area state representative has introduced legislation focused on curbing skyrocketing housing costs by placing a statewide cap on annual rent increases.

State Rep. Jim Prokopiak, a Democrat representing the 140th Legislative District, and State Rep. Nancy Guenst, a Democrat from Montgomery County, held a press conference last week to advocate for House Bill 914.

The bill, which was introduced with former Hatboro Mayor Guenst, seeks to prevent rent hikes from significantly outpacing inflation and tenant wage growth.

In the proposal, the lawmakers would seek to cap annual rent increases to 3 percent of the base rent plus inflation, or a flat 6 percent of the base rent, whichever figure is lower.

The legislation includes provisions for exceptions, such as property renovations or other “legitimate reasons” that might justify a higher increase.

“Rents have become unaffordable for many here in Bucks and Montgomery counties, even for those with good paying jobs,” Prokopiak said.

The Levittown lawmaker said the rising costs are due to large corporations and private equity firms buying up significant portions of the rental market.

Currently, more than 43 percent of Pennsylvania renters are “rent burdened,” a term used for those who spend more than 30 percent of their monthly income on housing, according to Prokopiak’s office.

The rental site RentHop has data that shows the median rental price in Bucks County is $2,650, and the average price for a one-bedroom apartment has jumped from $999 a decade ago to $1,800 this past March.

Guenst said that the bill is designed to offer stability rather than stall economic growth.

“This legislation does not take away property rights, nor does it stop development,” Guenst said. “What it does is give local communities the option to put reasonable guardrails in place to prevent sudden, excessive rent spikes that destabilize families and neighborhoods.”

The lawmakers noted that California and Oregon have already implemented rent stabilization frameworks that are similar.

Supporters of the bill argue that housing stability is the foundation of community health.

Correne Kristiansen, advocacy coordinator at the Bucks-Mont Collaborative, said stable housing allows residents to maintain employment, keep children in the same schools, and manage their health.

Ryan Leighton, a Middletown Township supervisor and lifelong Levittown resident, spoke to the generational impact of the price hikes.

“For many young people in my generation, staying in the communities we grew up in is becoming increasingly out of reach,” Leighton said.

Prokopiak said the bill is a “commonsense measure” to protect families from price gouging by corporate landlords seeking to maximize shareholder profits.

The bill has been referred to the House Housing and Community Development Committee, where it currently awaits further action.