Section 504-B. Attorney General's Office; Tenant-Landlord Handbook; Legal assistance; Need Help? The timeframe for correcting the issue depends in large part on the problem and the season. The recommendation isn’t set in stone, though, and there might be acceptable reasons for a landlord to allow fewer occupants. How much notice depends on the length of the lease. The City of Philadelphia passed the Emergency Housing Protection Act (Philadelphia Code 9-809) on July 1, 2020, and amended it on December 1, 2020. However, tenant law varies from state to state, which is why we take a closer look at each state specifically. A tenant and landlord may have a significant disagreement when the tenant withholds rent due to unsafe or uninhabitable conditions on the rental property. If the tenant has told the landlord of the problem and the landlord hasn’t repaired or corrected it, the tenant has the right to have the city or municipality’s housing inspector come out to investigate. Pennsylvania tenant rights allow landlords to enter a dwelling only for repairs or inspections, and only after providing reasonable notice. Pennsylvania Landlord Tenant Laws are provided in the 68 P.S. Tenant Resource Guide. Whether you’re a landlord or a tenant, you should typically be able to deal with legal issues without going to court. Landlord Responsibilities. Pennsylvania tenants are legally entitled to rental property that meets basic structural, health, and safety standards and is in good repair. Thus, tenants may be allowed to change the locks but are not recommended to do so without asking for landlord permission first. Lead Counsel independently verifies attorneys by conferring with state bar associations and conducting annual reviews to confirm that an attorney practices in their advertised practice areas and possesses a valid bar license for the appropriate jurisdictions. Consumer Protection Law in Pennsylvania and Landlord/Tenant Relationships are discussed by NWLS Attorneys John Gandrud & David Hull in this episode. Section 505-A. In 2017, there were  more than 28,000 complaints of housing discrimination. For example, if the heater breaks or if there is an issue with the water lines or sewer, they need to notify the landlord. Section 504-A. You also need to give tenants notice if you plan on evicting them. Short-Term Property Management Company in PA & Baltimore, Property Management Accounting in Central PA & Baltimore, Receive Professional Help With Lease Preparation, illegal to deny housing to someone based on their age, forbid discrimination based on a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation, more than 28,000 complaints of housing discrimination, Questions to Ask a Property Management Company, Landlord's Guide to Writing Lease Agreements in Pennsylvania. Section 508-B. Pittsburgh and surrounding Allegheny County have ordinances that protect tenants from discriminations based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Pennsylvania Landlord Tenant Law protects both tenants and landlords by establishing basic regulations for the rental of residential property. From fees to tenant screening and maintenance - learn more! A landlord desirous of repossessing real property from a tenant except real property which is a mobile home space as defined in the act of November 24, 1976 (P.L. In Pennsylvania, these often include: Landlord/tenant disputes, such as those related to rental rates, late or unpaid rent, security deposits, disagreements about the habitability of rental property, and other tenant rights and landlord rights issues. Some of the rights you have when renting in PA include: Tenant Rights to Quiet Enjoyment The Pennsylvania Rent Withholding Act provides a legal way for tenants to withhold rent from a landlord without risking eviction. Cities and counties may enact their own rules and regulations for renters. Discriminatory acts & penalties. [PDF] Content Detail. As such, it is generally assumed that at-will tenants have no protections and may be evicted at any time for any reason. Who can live in the rental property and who can visit it? Pennsylvania Laws on Retaliation Landlords are prohibited from harassing or retaliating against tenants who exercise their rights. It’s fairly common for landlords to run a credit check on a potential tenant. If the landlord makes the needed repairs within six months, they will get the money in the escrow account. If the eviction is for nonpayment of rent, the tenant has the legal right to stop the eviction by paying the back rent due plus expenses, up to the last moment. The following is an overview of tenants' rights, with links to corresponding FindLaw articles. By: ... PA on 7/12/07. Some landlord-tenant disputes will leave you with no other option. In Pennsylvania, it’s usually anywhere from 10 to 30 days. The three categories that saw the most complaints were disability, race and family status. Tenant rights when a house is for sale vary state by state, but a violation could cause delays for the seller or worse, trigger legal recourse from the wronged tenant. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. If the tenant does not appear or has no defenses, the court will enter an order in favor of the landlord and permit the eviction. Protected groups. To find out more about the ways in which a Pennsylvania real estate lawyer can offer assistance with the process of protecting your rights as a landlord of a commercial property, and the ways in which an attorney can help you to evict a tenant, give us a call at 610-834-8819 or contact us today. 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