The principal publication is Truth in Renting, which is available in both English and Spanish. There is no required grace period. That should trigger the process of getting the tenants service restored, and getting the tenant in a position to make those ongoing payments to maintain service, he says. Copyright Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania 2023. Finally, check USA.gov, the official U.S. website for government information. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Similarly, a tenant has the right to fast repairs and maintenance on the property. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Whether the landlord is required to pay the tenant interest on a security deposit depends. ZN;p)h*Hc0g/Ra &9,\jX?08bCL>w0_c : *'X=43YP Z q\%eE7S8~ED3BFBy)(}3,CW=9&|=Z:unevN]2Ug>/OrWA$)gtSt5r/ UloX~g/a1)K_6oLznyI7Lb,Lb>w Finally, if the utility company shuts off your utility service without first giving you the proper notice, you may contact the Office of Consumer Protection at (814) 871-4371 or 1-800-441-2555 for help in enforcing the law. The notice should arrive 30 days before the proposed shutoff date, and it must contain a few specific pieces of information: How much the bill is for the most recent 30-day period. Organize documents and coordinate document productions. exercising a legal right allowed by your state or local law, such as withholding the rent for an uninhabitable unit. Tenants are also protected if a landlord calls the water department and asks for service to the property to be turned off. The medical certification can be renewed two additional times. Tenants know exactly how much they need to budget each month, and landlords don't have to track multiple charges when billing the monthly rent. For specifics, see Pennsylvania Tenant Rights to Withhold Rent or "Repair and Deduct". If a landlord attempts to evict you without following this law, they could be liable for an illegal eviction. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. If the lease term has ended, or the landlord claims the tenant has breached the lease, the landlord has two options: If the lease is for less than one year, the landlord must give the tenant 30 days notice. State and Local Government on the Net and Municode are good sources for finding local governments online. Do late fees need to be in the written rental agreement? A pet deposit is viewed in the same manner as any security deposit and the landlord is subject to the same limitations which are described above, that is, no more than two months security deposit may be held for the first year of the lease and, after the first year of the lease no more than one months security deposit may be held. Under Pennsylvania law and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities may bring their service animals to all public accommodations, such as government buildings, hotels, restaurants, stadiums, and stores. One method many landlords and property managers use to charge their tenants for utilities is including the estimated cost in the monthly rent. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Rental agreements are required for tenancies that are 12 months or longer in Pennsylvania. These references were compiled from the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and various online sources to serve as a reference and for people wanting to learn about Pennsylvania landlord-tenant laws, Pennsylvania eviction laws, and Pennsylvania renters' rights. Ask to speak to the supervisor and write down the name of the person you speak with. And check out our tips to make your rental lease even better. In Philadelphia, the Utility Service Tenants Rights Act applies to the water bill from the Philadelphia Water Department, while the Discontinuance of Service to Leased Premises Act applies to bills from Peco and Philadelphia Gas Works. In the state of Pennsylvania, a rental agreement is valid wherever a tenant agrees to exchange rent for occupying a property. In most states, the law affords special protections to victims of domestic violence. When it comes to water service, for example, state law requires that the utility company send a notice to any property that is reasonably likely to be tenant-occupied. A landlord who wants you to leave can evict you under the terms of the lease or rental agreement (for example, if you fail to pay rent), following proper state rules and procedures. You can also sign your own ready-to-sign lease agreements with Avail at no additional cost to either party. In Pennsylvania, the landlord is not required to provide a receipt when the tenants rent has been received. To access the statutes, go to the Pennsylvania Laws and Legal Information section of the Nolo site and find the link to your state laws. If your landlord is responsible for paying for utility service and fails to pay the utility bill or if the landlord instructs the utility company to shut off your service, the Utility Services Tenants Right Act requires that you be notified by the utility company at least 30 days in advance. stream Once you receive the 30-day shutoff notice, there are things you can do as a tenant to keep the service on. Landlords are allowed to create their own requirements for pets, most notably, they can decide if pets are allowed, what size is allowed, etc. Track rental income and expenses in one place Does There Have to Be an Individual Meter for Each Apartment? Under the act, a landlord doesn't have the right to forbid overnight guests or to limit the number of visitors a tenant has in a week or month. The utility company has to notify you of the proposed termination within seven (7) days of the termination notice to the landlord. evidence and priority of payment as is provided by law in the case of the mortgaging of . If you do not believe a utility is providing a payment term you can report them to the Public Utility Commission (PUC) at, Show that you paid your bill or show that there is a disagreement (dispute) about your bill. NgRf*oMe~@EpW*d@`hp ddj7j~V'.YO!9! Whenever the landlord sues the tenant, the tenant has the right to defend him or herself. This means that there cannot be a foreign load on the tenants utility billthe tenants wiring cannot include the common areas or another apartment. Sometimes the landlord keeps the water bill in their name, but the tenant is responsible for paying the cost. You can also check local rental listings to see what other landlords are charging and if theyre including utilities. Tenant Rights: Security Deposits, Lease Terminations, and More. During the second and subsequent years of the lease or during any renewal of the original lease, the security deposit to be charged may not exceed one months rent. There are no specific Pennsylvania landlord tenant laws on when the property is considered abandoned by the tenant. Pennsylvania is Now Accepting Applications for the Homeowner Assistance Fund, PUC Offers Winter Storm Utility Safety Tips, Department Of Human Services Highlights New State Child Care Tax Credit Available To Help Working Families, PUC and PA Department of Human Services Kick Off Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Season, Consumer Alert: What Pennsylvanians Need to Know about the New Debt Collection Regulation Set to Take Effect 11/30/21, If your landlord pays the utility bills, but stops making payment to a utility company, a law called the Utility Service Tenants Rights Act requires the utility company to give you a chance to stop your utility service from being discontinued, [A utility includes the gas and electric companies, and most municipal water/sewer authorities (service must be provided beyond the municipalities' corporate limits), but not to Rural Cooperatives.]. First, attempt to have the landlord make the necessary payments immediately to restore your service. 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 . Legal issues related to real estate and the landlord/tenant relationship come in a variety of forms. Your rent price should typically be based on seasonality, local rental comps, your operating expenses, and how much profit you hope to generate each month. His work has also appeared inPhiladelphia magazine andTechnical.lyPhilly. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Create an account to make a lease agreement for your rental and collect rental fees from tenants. The landlord must supply the utility company with the names and addresses of the tenants so the utility can provide the tenant with notice. 250.101-250.602. Stat. Landlord-Tenant Information forms and publications available from this website are intended to assist both residential landlords and tenants to understand their rights and responsibilities. On a month-to-month lease, the landlord is required to provide 15 days notice to tenants when there are changes to the lease. Any landlord, agent or employee of the landlord who threatens or retaliates against a tenant can be liable for damages equal to two months rent or the actual damages sustained by the tenant, whichever is greater, and the costs of suit and reasonable attorneys fees. Please be aware that city and local laws can be more specific and should be followed in lieu of state laws. Between April 1 and November 30, if you pay the amount owed in full or make a payment agreement (if eligible) and meet any other conditions required by the utility company, your service must be restored within 3 days. Under Pennsylvania law and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities may bring their service animals to all public accommodations, such as government buildings, hotels, restaurants, stadiums, and stores. Its never been easier to create, modify, and sign a rental agreement. We have attempted to insure the accuracy of the information in this pamphlet at the time it was created or revised. For example, your landlord may not charge you more than the equivalent of two months' rent for the first year of your lease, and not more than one months' rent . There are no specified lease renewal provisions in Pennsylvania. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. An attempt to contact you or an adult in your household personally at least 3 days before the, An attempt to contact you or an adult in your household at the time of the shut-off, During December to March, if the company has not made personal contact prior to termination, it must post a notice in an obvious place at your house saying your utilities will be shut off and they must give you at least 48 hours notice, Contact the utility company at the phone number on the notice. The premises must meet minimum standards of habitability including compliance with applicable building codes. Are there specific security deposit requirements? Therefore, you should consult an attorney before taking or refraining from any action based on the information in this pamphlet. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. <> 250.101 - 250.510-B . However, you must also pay the future monthly bills as they come due to maintain your utility service. This may be considered an illegal attempt to evict you without going through proper legal procedures and if this happens or if the landlord threatens this, you should consult an attorney or call legal aid. `nv?&H2 1{{OK&G{+yr/ K`MUX7.w%7u,nRmTp9.AKHG9dLE Landlord rental licenses are not required by Pennsylvania law. how you can stop the service from being terminated, the landlord's bill for the last 30 days of service, and. See Pennsylvania Security Deposit Limits and Deadlines for more on the subject. Congress has enacted laws, and federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have adopted regulations, covering discrimination and landlord responsibilities to disclose environmental health hazards, such as lead-based paint. (July 2, 1993, P.L.379, No.54, eff. READ MORE: Your rights as a tenant: Check out our tenants' rights guide. Tenant Laws: Utilities Utilities are basic necessary services provided to residential properties by public companies. These laws also require those who operate transportation services to allow service animals. However, if the tenant fails to pay rent 10 days after rent is due, the landlord is allowed to declare the tenant in default under the lease agreement or accept the rent and the appropriate late fee. Generally, Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law is landlord friendly. Landlord has certain duties to the tenant throughout the lease term while tenant is occupying the premises. Tenants who occupy the rental unit for two or more years are entitled to interest paid on the security deposit beginning on the 25th month of occupancy. 250.101 to 399.18. Subleasing occurs when the original tenant rents the unit to another individual. Utility Disclosure: A landlord who has expressly or impliedly agreed in the lease to furnish and pay for water, gas, or electric service to the tenant's dwelling is liable to the tenant if the utility company has cut off utility service to the tenant's dwelling. Nick Vadala is a staff writer for the Inquirer, writing about arts, travel, food and drink, and civics. Moreover, if the landlord wants to increase the rent price on a month-to-month lease, the landlord must provide the tenant with at least 30 days notice. The utility company is only required to provide you with one payment agreement for the same debt. The utility must notify the tenant occupants before any shut-off and allow them to pay the bill for last 30 days only and deduct the payments from rent as it becomes due. Contact your local legal services for further assistance. What are the Pennsylvania laws on eviction? Landlords are prohibited from harassing or retaliating against tenants who exercise their rights. After you tell the utility about this medical condition, you will need to get a doctor or nurse practitioner to call or send a statement to the utility company confirming the medical condition. State law regulates several rent-related issues, including how much time (10 days in Pennsylvania) a tenant has to pay overdue rent or move before a landlord can file for eviction. Finally, if the landlord does not return the tenants security deposit within the 30 days, the landlord may be liable to pay the tenant double the amount of the deposit they are owed. The majority of our Pennsylvania landlords noted that they provide the tenant with at least 48-hours notice before entering the premises. Security Deposits in New Jersey. Mold Disclosure: Pennsylvania home sellers must, by law, advise potential buyers of the property about known material defects that are not readily observable, including structural and other problems, before the sale is completed, including, but not limited to mold. Compare top rated Blair County rental lawyer profiles with awards, ratings & customer reviews. Get a printable renter application AND learn how to screen Pennsylvania tenants securelyfree for landlords. 4. It is produced in cooperation with Pro Bono Net and legal aid organizations, bar associations, community organizations and government agencies throughout Pennsylvania and the United States. Under Pennsylvania law, landlords must disclose specific information to tenants (usually in the lease or rental agreement), such as the name and address of the banking institution where the security deposit is kept. If the landlord fails to do so, the utility company must find another way to get this information. Here are three factors to consider as you decide how to handle utilities. Learn how to set a late fee. If the tenant is responsible for paying the utility bill, the Pennsylvania Utility Code requires the landlord to ensure that each residential unit is individually metered. Absent a rental agreement, the landlord is required to provide the tenant with at least 15 days notice of any changes to the lease. Compare top rated Burnham rental lawyer profiles with awards, ratings & customer reviews. If your service has already been shut off, this will require the utility company to restore your service. Is a security deposit required in Pennsylvania? Our state-specific rental agreements include all the necessary notices and disclosures based on your propertys address. Lead Paint Disclosure: Federal law requires landlords to disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. Visit their website at, If you live outside of Philadelphia, visit the $1 Energy Fund at, If you live in Philadelphia, visit the Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF) at. In Philadelphia, the landlord-tenant law is governed by the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code (Section PM-102.6.4). Earn up to $500 in account credit by referring 10 fellow DIY landlords to create an account on Avail. If you just want to browse through the Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law, you can find state statutes at 68 Pa. Cons. Lessor shall not unreasonably withhold permission and will accept a reasonable sublease as provided by ordinance.. This guide will cover Pennsylvania, as well as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia landlord-tenant law. ; Time Limit for Returns - 30 days, 15 days if leaving because of domestic violence, 5 days if forcibly evicted due to natural disaster. If the landlord responds to this by suing you in Magisterial District Judge court for nonpayment of rent, you have the right to file a countersuit with the Magisterial District Judge for two months rent payments. Lease conditions can include keeping the unit clean, not damaging the unit or property, and not disrupting the quiet enjoyment of other tenants in the building. It is your responsibility to contact the utility company immediately with any billing dispute or payment problem in order to avoid having your utilities shut off. For complete information on handling utilities in your state, we recommend researching your state and local laws or speaking with a landlord-tenant lawyer. !,ze&G;]Vv')0h-*&mCnLa931mixMUDF?g::Xc&n=1vo!fN5EUDXBc0BEI`:Wa|? b]Rt!!\S}gXg0F|{pZ.!Y*( Y'Zj,iM&hbk 75|k-;*sh,yuL`ZmxTws`XwvrE.Xu You should not consider any information in this article to be legal advice. In most states, subleasing is not allowed unless the landlord consents. This is a summary of Pennsylvania Landlord-Tenant laws that apply to residential (non-commercial) rentals. * Once application is approved, the security deposit equal to one month's rent is due within 3 days, this "holds" the . If the tenant contacts the landlord within the 10-day period, the landlord must allow the tenant. Most notably, the code requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the, City of Philadelphia Partners for Good Housing. If a landlord chooses to collect a security deposit, he or she may only charge the tenant a security deposit up to a certain amount. In Pennsylvania, a landlord can evict a tenant without a lease or with a lease that has ended (known as a "holdover tenant" or "tenant at will"). Call your utility company to inform them of your PFA so these special procedures and protections can put in place for you. Help prepare lawyers for meetings and court hearings. While there are some small nuances between the two laws, Ballenger says, both are designed to prevent a tenant from losing a vital . However, we do advise that you check your local jurisdiction for rental license laws in case it is required locally. Tenant'sExemption;Appraisement. But remember, as a tenant, you do have some rights. Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law is pretty landlord-friendly. Also, the Cornell Legal Information Institute provides the entire U.S. Code as well as the Code of Federal Regulations. Section403. There is an anti-retaliation provision in the law that presumes illegal retaliation if an owner seeks to raise the rent or evict a tenant within 6 months of the tenant exercising their rights under the Pennsylvania Utility Code except in cases of nonpayment of rent. That can be accomplished with a copy of your lease, but if you dont have a written lease, items like rent receipts or official communications with your landlord should suffice. Below is a breakdown on how most landlords handle utilities for their rentals and who is responsible for which utility bill: Its common for landlords to include water and trash because these can be difficult to transfer from individual to individual. Pennsylvania Security Deposit Limit and Return 60 days) . Lease Clauses on Utilities. To go further, check out Legal Research: How to Find & Understand the Law, by Stephen Elias and the Editors of Nolo (Nolo). 68 P.S. the date on or after which they will turn off your utility service. This means that there cannot be a "foreign load" on the tenant's utility billthe tenant's wiring cannot include the common areas or another apartment. Additionally, landlords must give an. Most notably, the code requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the City of Philadelphia Partners for Good Housingbrochure. To access the U.S. Code and Code of Federal Regulations online, see Nolo's Federal Law Resources page. In Pennsylvania, the landlord may impose certain penalties if the tenant violates the terms of the rental agreement by subleasing the premises. If you didnt receive a 30-day shutoff notice, you can still pay the water bill and deduct the costs from your rent to get the service turned back on. See State Laws on Unconditional Quit Terminations and State Laws on Termination for Violation of Lease for details on these types of termination notices in Pennsylvania. Termination of utility services to the mobile home. The District Justice will decide whether or not the landlord is entitled to a judgment for possession of the property. But in practice, Ballenger says, utility companies sometimes want tenants to pay the most recent 30-day bill and submit proof of their tenancy right away, which is a problem, because they should give you that period to come up with the money for the most recent 30-day bill and figure out what to do next. Be stored in your browser only with your consent is considered abandoned the. They provide the tenant has the right to fast repairs and maintenance on subject! Legal issues related to real estate and the landlord/tenant relationship come in variety. 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For Each Apartment summary of Pennsylvania landlord-tenant laws that apply to residential properties by companies! Is available in both English and Spanish consent to record the user consent the! Necessary notices and disclosures based on your propertys address lawyer profiles with awards, ratings & amp customer! And addresses of the rental agreement for utilities is including the estimated cost in the category `` Functional.... This will require the utility company to inform them of your PFA so these special and. Landlord keeps the water department and asks for service to the supervisor and write down the name the. This law, they could be liable for an uninhabitable unit mortgaging of after which will! As withholding the rent for occupying a property the right to defend him or herself tenants are also protected a! Your PFA so these special procedures and protections can put in place for you City of Philadelphia for! Are prohibited from harassing or retaliating against tenants who exercise their rights responsibilities.
