Boxes used for eviction tenant

Tenant right to lawyers bill held for changes by committee

Sam HautGovernment, Headlines

The Senate Housing & Land Use committee on Wednesday heard from dozens of people supporting a bill to provide tenants who lose their leases the right to a lawyer to help.  Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, would set up a system for tenants below 200% of the federal poverty line a right to an …

A bill that would allow tenants to stop paying rent when a landlord doesn't make critical repairs didn't make it out of committee Tuesday.

Bill to allow tenants to stop paying rent stuck in committee

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

A proposed bill that would allow tenants to stop paying rent when life- or safety-threatening issues had not been repaired failed to pass out of committee Tuesday. House Bill 37, sponsored by Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker, D-Wilmington, drew praise from both sides of the aisle as well as from apartment associations and others who deal with renters for wanting to …

Affordable Housing

2022 Rewind: Affordable housing crisis affects middle class, too

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

This story was originally published in April 2022. Evidence continues to pile up that Delaware is struggling to provide affordable housing: Data released in April by Housing Alliance Delaware says the state faces a shortage of more than 18,000 affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters.  Also this April, Delaware State Housing Authority announced that eligible Delaware renters …

Eviction

Tenant right to counsel bill defeated in committee

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A bill to guarantee tenants the right to legal counsel in eviction proceedings failed in the House Appropriations Committee Thursday. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 101, which will not advance to the House floor, would have: Created a right to legal representation for renters facing eviction whose household income is lower than 200% of federal poverty guidelines; Placed coordination …

Affordable Housing

Delaware’s affordable housing crisis affects middle class, too

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Evidence continues to pile up that Delaware is struggling to provide affordable housing: Data released Thursday by Housing Alliance Delaware says the state faces a shortage of more than 18,000 affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters.  Also Thursday, Delaware State Housing Authority announced that eligible Delaware renters can now receive up to 18 months of rental and …

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Renter, landlord advocates disagree over solutions to eviction crisis

Charlie MegginsonBusiness, Government, Headlines

Lawmakers and advocates say a new Delaware Supreme Court rule that allows tenants to be represented by non-lawyer advocates in eviction proceedings will create parity with landlords and mitigate some of the most harmful effects of housing insecurity. Opponents, including the Delaware Apartment Association, the non-profit group that represents the interests of multi-family rental unit landlords, say efforts and money …

Bill that would create program to help renters avoid eviction passes Senate

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

A bill that would create a pre-eviction program for renters about to be kicked out passed the Senate Tuesday. Photo by George Becker/Pexels   A bill that would create a new state program to help people on the edge of eviction stay in their homes or apartments is headed to the House after passing the Senate Tuesday. The bill would …