Para enmendar los Artículos 625, 629 y 632 de la Ley 135 del 14 de noviembre de 1933, según enmendada, conocida como “Código de Enjuiciamiento Civil de Puerto Rico”, a los fines de actualizar y fortalecer el procedimiento de desahucio en casos relacionados con viviendas públicas administradas por la Administración de Vivienda Pública (AVP) y el Departamento de Vivienda Federal (HUD); extender los plazos de apelación para garantizar un debido proceso de ley, especialmente para personas de edad avanzada, con discapacidades o de bajos ingresos; requerir la culminación obligatoria del procedimiento administrativo de "Intención de Cancelación de Contrato de Arrendamiento" antes de radicar una demanda de desahucio en tribunales por incumplimientos no relacionados con falta de pago; incorporar explícitamente la reglamentación federal del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos (HUD) en todo lo concerniente a desahucios en residenciales públicos; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Bill extends eviction appeal timelines for vulnerable public housing tenants and requires pre-litigation administrative procedures while incorporating HUD federal standards into Puerto Rico law.

Referido a Comisión(es)

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 929 amends Puerto Rico's Civil Procedure Code to reform eviction procedures in public housing administered by the Public Housing Administration (AVP) and HUD. The bill extends appeal timelines for vulnerable populations (elderly, disabled, low-income residents), requires completion of administrative proceedings before court eviction filings for non-payment violations, and explicitly incorporates HUD's federal regulations into Puerto Rico's eviction framework.

Why is this important

Public housing evictions directly affect vulnerable populations with limited resources to navigate legal processes. These reforms attempt to balance landlord protections with tenant due process rights while ensuring Puerto Rico's procedures align with federal HUD requirements, potentially preventing unnecessary displacement and legal delays that disproportionately harm disadvantaged residents.

Potential points of contention

Administrative burden: Requiring completion of administrative "Intent to Cancel Lease" procedures before court filing may delay evictions for legitimate non-payment cases, creating tension between tenant protections and timely housing management

Extended timelines and costs: Longer appeal periods increase administrative costs and potential housing unit vacancy times, which may be passed to remaining tenants or strain public housing budgets already under fiscal pressure

Scope ambiguity: The bill's integration of federal HUD regulations into Puerto Rico law may create conflicts with existing local procedures or unclear jurisdictional boundaries between AVP and federal oversight