It’s also worth noting that nearly every entity discriminates against renters:
Rental properties in Lancaster City are subject to a $50/year rental fee plus inspections that required of owner occupied units. Utility companies charge higher rates for electricity and gas to rental properties. The PA state charges sales tax on heating oil for rental units, but not owner occupied properties. Rental properties are excluded from casino-based school tax rebates. Lancaster city charges two apartments perhaps with only one tenant each twice the garbage rate of a single family home with perhaps 10 occupants.
Sadly, both state and local governments discriminate against renters. It’s particularly unfair in the Lancaster city where reportedly over half of all properties are rental units.
It is unfair to characterize the annual registration fee for apartments as discrimination. Homeowners have an incentive to maintain their properties in a livable condition; absentee landlords – most of whom see their apartments as nothing more than a source of income – do not.
The $50 a year fee doesn’t really cover the city’s cost of regularly inspecting all rental units, and as a homeowner it would be discriminating against ME if my real estate taxes were being spent to keep absentee landlords honest.
As for trash, the single lady who lives down the street pays the same amount that my wife and I do, which is the same amount as the large extended family around the corner. Each residential unit in Lancaster City pays the same amount, whether owned or rented.