Resolution 210695
Authorizing the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless to hold a hearing to discuss the impact of tangled titles in Philadelphia.
Introduced by
From the floor
Passages in the official transcripts that cite this file number. Every quote links to its exact place in the record.
“Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony. QUEEN ROBINSON: Good morning. Queen Judith Robinson regarding Bill 210695, the tangled title bill. I am respectfully requesting per the hearing that we open up this process to allow people -- and I'm going to be quite frank -- like myself, who are November 18, 2021 Stated Meeting November 18, 2021 real professionals, to assist with t…”
Council President Clarke · Stated Meeting, November 18, 2021 · Nov 18, 2021 · official transcript, this passage
Status timeline
- Sep 17, 2021Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar · CITY COUNCIL
- Sep 17, 2021ADOPTED · CITY COUNCIL
- Oct 20, 2021HEARING NOTICES SENT · Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless
- Oct 20, 2021HEARING HELD · Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless
- Oct 20, 2021RECESSED · Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless
Official documents
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..Title Authorizing the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless to hold a hearing to discuss the impact of tangled titles in Philadelphia. ..Body WHEREAS, Tangled titles are properties in Philadelphia that have unclear ownership. The most common way a property's owner becomes unclear is when the person on the property title dies and the surviving family continues to live on the property without legally transferring the title to their name; and WHEREAS, A recent Pew Charitable Trust report released in August 2021 entitled "How Tangled Titles Affect Philadelphia," found that Philadelphia has at least 10,407 properties with a tangled title, valued at over $1.1 billion worth of property collectively, and the areas with the most tangled titles are 87% Black; and WHEREAS, Pew found that half of the tangled titles became tangled within the last ten years. This suggests that many older tangled titles are resolved either through legal remedies or by losing a house to sheriff's sale or foreclosure; and WHEREAS, Areas of Philadelphia most affected by tangled titles have also seen dramatic property value increases. Over a 10-year period, property values in North Philadelphia have increased at least 86%, and in West Philadelphia, property values have increased at least 139.2%; and WHEREAS, 39% of tax-delinquent tangled title homes are in payment agreements with the city, a rate of participation higher than the average of 34% among all delinquent residential properties; and WHEREAS, Having a tangled title prevents a homeowner from accessing assistance programs, including tax relief, home repair grants, and utility assistance; and WHEREAS, The complicated nature of this process and the multiple agencies, departments, and people involved means that there are unintended barriers to assisting Philadelphians who are trying to resolve tangled titles that could be fixed through improved collaboration and coordination; and WHEREAS, Addressing tangled titles will require a city-wide effort to understand the current challenges and barriers that exist to resolving this long standing issue; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby authorizes the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless to hold a hearing to discuss the impact of tangled titles in Philadelphia and ways to support those with a tangled title. ..End