Delaware bill seeks to stifle eviction rates

DOVER — Following Thursday’s introduction of proposed legislation aimed at curbing Delaware’s eviction rates and strengthening tenant options to contest cases, the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 101 sounded optimistic about its chances for success.

“I’m very hopeful that it passes this legislative year,” said Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, during a Zoom conference.

“I think we have, obviously, a very serious bubble coming off a pandemic, so my hope is very much that as more colleagues learn how skewed the system is and what progress other jurisdictions have seen that we’ll be able (to enact) this year.”

The legislation seeks to increase renters’ access to counsel during tenant-landlord actions. According to the bill’s synopsis, 86% of landlords are represented by an attorney, agent or business manager in the First State’s approximately 18,000 eviction cases filed annually, while only 2% of tenants have representation.

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