PA Supreme Court issues a new rule making it easier for landlord-tenant mediation programs to partner with local courts.
August 12, 2025
Effective October 1, local courts across Pennsylvania will have the authority to create or coordinate with landlord-tenant mediation programs aimed at preventing evictions.
What the new rule does
This rule removes a significant administrative barrier that has long slowed the creation of eviction-prevention programs connected to local courts. Until now, anyone seeking to establish such a program in partnership with a court had to navigate a lengthy and uncertain process: obtaining approval from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. That process could take years, stalling innovative local solutions before they could get off the ground.
Now, the decision-making power has shifted closer to home. The President Judge of each judicial district can directly approve local rules and procedures for creating or coordinating with landlord-tenant mediation programs. This change allows communities to move faster in launching programs that respond to their unique housing challenges, resources, and priorities.
Why this matters
Landlord-tenant mediation programs are proven to reduce evictions and foster agreements that work for both landlords and tenants. By intervening before an eviction reaches a final judgment, mediation can help families stay housed, reduce court caseloads, and save landlords the time and expense of turnover.
Previously, the requirement to seek state-level approval meant that many promising local initiatives never progressed beyond the idea stage. This rule change means local courts can now act quickly, adapting to rising eviction rates, economic downturns, or other urgent housing needs without waiting for a multi-year approval process.
What the rule does not do
- It does not require local courts to create or staff a mediation program.
- It does not make mediation a mandatory step before an eviction can be filed.
- It does not provide dedicated funding for mediation programs.
While the rule empowers local courts, it will still take education, outreach, and advocacy to encourage courts to take advantage of this new flexibility. Showing the benefits—such as reduced caseloads, faster resolutions, and better outcomes for both landlords and tenants—will be key to expanding adoption.
Our commitment
The Housing Alliance remains steadfast in supporting communities interested in creating eviction-prevention programs. Our Eviction Prevention Resource Library includes:
- Toolkits for starting a landlord-tenant mediation program
- Factsheets on the impact and value of eviction prevention
- Best practices from across Pennsylvania and beyond
We will continue working alongside local leaders, service providers, tenants/tenant advocates, and landlords to build programs that keep families stably housed and reduce the strain on courts and landlords alike.
Background
The push for this change began in 2021, when legal and housing advocates in Allegheny County anticipated a post-pandemic surge in evictions. They proposed a rule allowing each of Pennsylvania’s sixty judicial districts to set their own local rules for creating or coordinating with landlord-tenant mediation programs.
In January 2022, the Housing Alliance, along with the Community Justice Project, PA Bar Association, PA Legal Aid Network, and others, submitted letters to the Minor Court Rules Committee urging adoption of this proposal.
By August 2023, the Committee issued its recommendation for public comment, and the Housing Alliance mobilized eviction-prevention leaders across the state to voice their support.
After a long wait, the final rule has now been adopted, marking a major step forward in giving communities the tools they need to address eviction locally, effectively, and quickly.