The State House of Representatives advanced Wednesday House Bill 2412 that would require the secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to issue a waiver to restart all real estate-related activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Real estate activities under the legislation would be required to adhere to federal social distancing practices and other mitigation efforts laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in order to resume.
“It only makes sense that we should allow people of the Commonwealth access to housing, as food and shelter are two of the most important securities we have,” said Rep. Todd Polinchock (R-Bucks), who sponsored the bill. “Real estate licensees have the ability to abide by and adhere to guidelines and restrictions outlined by the CDC during these transactions in order to stay safe.”
The waiver granted to real estate operations would be in direct response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 Business Closure Order, which he put in place for all “non-essential” businesses on March 19. A waiver process was issued under the DCED for businesses to petition for essential status.
The Pennsylvania housing market has been devastated by the waiver process and overall business closures. While 48 states have already lifted the real estate restriction, industry professionals, families, and clients in Pennsylvania have been left without a way to settle their housing concerns.
“Our citizens deserve the right to housing and our real estate professionals are more than capable of providing safe working conditions,” Polinchock said.
House Bill 2412 is now awaiting consideration in the state Senate.