Philadelphia Passes Law to Help Victims of Home Theft Fraud

New legislation refunds realty transfer tax to rightful homeowners instead of thieves.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The city of Philadelphia has passed new legislation to help victims of home theft fraud recoup some of the costs associated with reclaiming their rightful properties. The bill refunds the realty transfer tax to the legitimate homeowner instead of the thief who has been convicted of stealing the property. Criminals often target seniors, people with tax or mortgage delinquencies, and homes where the record owner is deceased, taking advantage of the difficulty and expense of untangling the title.

Why it matters

Home theft fraud is a growing problem in Philadelphia, with an estimated 10,000 homes having "tangled titles" not in the rightful owner's name. City officials say 75 to 100 of these homes are "stolen" each year, leaving victims to spend thousands of dollars to regain control of their properties. This new legislation aims to provide some financial relief to those impacted by these crimes.

The details

The new law refunds the realty transfer tax to the rightful homeowner instead of the thief who has been convicted of stealing the property. Criminals often target vulnerable populations like seniors and those with tax or mortgage delinquencies, as well as homes where the record owner is deceased, taking advantage of the difficulty and expense of untangling the title which can cost $10,000 or more on average.

  • The new legislation was passed in February 2026.

The players

Philadelphia

The city that has passed new legislation to help victims of home theft fraud recoup some of the costs associated with reclaiming their rightful properties.

Criminals

Groups that target homes of unsuspecting people, often seniors, those with tax or mortgage delinquencies, and homes where the record owner is deceased, in order to commit deed fraud.

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What they’re saying

“In our experience, [the victims are] seniors, people with tax delinquencies, people with mortgage delinquencies, and especially homes where the record owner is dead.”

— Dugan (whyy.org)

What’s next

City officials will continue working to help more victims of home theft fraud reclaim their properties through this new legislation and other programs.

The takeaway

This new law in Philadelphia aims to provide financial relief to victims of home theft fraud, who often face thousands of dollars in costs to regain control of their rightful properties. It's part of the city's broader efforts to address this growing problem and help vulnerable residents protect their homes.