Philadelphia City Council's Housing Committee holds hearing on Safe Healthy Homes Act

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia City Council committee heard some horrific stories on Wednesday from renters who are being forced to live in homes with bug infestations, leaks in the ceiling, and predatory landlords.

It was part of a public hearing on the "Safe Healthy Homes Act."

That legislation would strengthen landlord accountability and deter retaliation against tenants.

An estimated 40% of Philadelphia's rental properties require repairs.

Katie Ashfield rented a unit in Germantown and says her landlord ignored her reports of black mold spreading from a water leak.

"The plaster on my ceiling started buckling under the leak and began falling off in chunks, which exposed even more mold and holes that centipedes would crawl out of," said Ashfield.

The Safe Healthy Homes Act was voted out of committee and will be scheduled for a final vote on March 19.