Pennsylvania landlords filed more than 18,000 eviction cases in just the first two months of 2026, according to data gathered by the Civil Court Data Initiative. The numbers reflect a deepening housing affordability crisis in which nearly half of the state's renters are considered cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing — a rate slightly above the national average. While Allegheny County and Philadelphia each saw more than 1,000 filings in February alone, eviction rates as a share of overall rentals were highest in Dauphin County (16.6%), York County (15.5%), Lehigh County (13.6%), Delaware County (10.5%) and Monroe County (9.3%). State officials warn Pennsylvania could face a shortage of 185,000 homes by 2035. In response, Gov. Josh Shapiro released a housing plan in March that focuses on preserving existing homes, accelerating new construction, and preventing housing instability, including a proposed $1 billion, bond-backed initiative for building projects and new renter protections that would bar landlords from charging excessive application fees or demanding payment before a property is even toured.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 4/21/2026