Harrisburg, PA – Attorney General Michelle Henry has announced a significant court-approved settlement, marking a victory for hundreds of Pennsylvanians in a longstanding dispute with Vision Property Management. The Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County has solidified the ownership status of former “rent to own” tenants, allowing them to retain the deeds to their homes without further challenge.
This resolution stems from a 2021 judgment against Vision Property Management and associated defendants, where over 250 state residents were granted deeds to their homes. These properties were initially part of controversial “lease with option to purchase” and “agreement for deed” contracts, deemed unlawful by the Attorney General’s Office. Despite subsequent appeals from some defendants contesting the residents’ ownership rights, the latest settlement affirms that the homeowners will maintain their properties free from any claims by these parties.
Furthermore, the agreement includes a provision prohibiting the defendants from participating in future residential real estate transactions within Pennsylvania. This measure aims to prevent the recurrence of such disputes and protect prospective homeowners from potential exploitation.
Attorney General Henry emphasized the relief this settlement brings to affected homeowners, who have faced uncertainty over their property rights. She highlighted the agreement’s role in providing not only peace of mind to these individuals but also restitution to those unjustly evicted prior to the initiation of legal action.
The litigation against Vision Property Management, initiated in 2019, targeted not only the company but also its subsidiaries and principals, Alexander Szkaradek and Antoni Szkaradek, for their role in offering unsafe and dilapidated homes through misleading “rent to own” agreements predominantly to low-income families.
In a related development, a January 3 court ruling approved a settlement with the Archway Defendants, separate entities under the same scheme, which includes a $250,000 payment to the Commonwealth and the transfer of several homes to the residents.