For details, see Pennsylvania Termination for Nonpayment of Rent, and Other Rent Rules. It consists of 50 separate numbered titles, each covering a specific subject matter. If a mobile home is abandoned by the tenant(s) for a period of thirty days or more, the owner of the mobile home park or other person or persons responsible for the operation of the park may: Enter the mobile home and secure any appliances, furnishings, materials, supplies or other personal property therein and disconnect the mobile home from any utilities, Move the mobile home to a storage area within the mobile home park or to another location, Assess removal charges and storage charges against the former mobile home residents. Section401. `nv?&H2 1{{OK&G{+yr/ K`MUX7.w%7u,nRmTp9.AKHG9dLE 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. This article is part of our guide to tenants rights in Philadelphia. 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. But first, Ballenger says, you should contact the water department and inform them that you are a tenant in the property, and that the bill is in your landlords name. Tara is a senior trial attorney with GEICO. This clause informs the tenant that you agree to provide access to heat and hot water. If you pay this amount directly to the utility company, they cannot stop service to your home. 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 . However, the law does change, sometimes quickly and unexpectedly. Landlords are allowed to create their own requirements for pets, most notably, they can decide if pets are allowed, what size is allowed, etc. If the landlord tries to evict you without following the Landlord/Tenant Act, by doing something such as changing the locks or shutting off your utilities, you should contact the Office of Consumer Protection for assistance at (814) 871-4371 or 1-800-441-2555. What are the rules and regulations pertaining to receipt of rent payments in Pennsylvania? Its also potentially risky to not have water flowing through your pipes, especially in the winter, so ensure everything works. Increase your rent price and bundle utilities and rent. Both laws protect people in Pennsylvania who use service animals, and tenants are entitled to rely on whichever law gives them the most protections. If you and your utility company cannot agree, call the Public Utility Commission (PUC) at. Nolo's Laws and Legal Research page includes links to state and federal laws, explains how to research and understand statutes, and provides advice on finding local ordinances and court cases, including Supreme Court cases. Most notably, the code requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the City of Philadelphia Partners for Good Housingbrochure. Pennsylvania Landlord Tenant Laws. Create a Philadelphia-specific residential lease here. A utility company cannot turn off your utility service without first giving you at least 30 days prior notice. The notice should have a bill for the previous 30 days of service attached. Legal issues related to real estate and the landlord/tenant relationship come in a variety of forms. Pennsylvania tenants are legally entitled to a rental that meets basic structural, health, and safety standards. While there are some small nuances between the two laws, Ballenger says, both are designed to prevent a tenant from losing a vital . Legal issues related to real estate and the landlord/tenant relationship come in a variety of forms. There is a Pennsylvania law which protects tenants whose landlords fail to pay their bills. Are there specific security deposit requirements? Deciding who pays for utilities during the lease term can be stressful, but certain factors can help you make a decision. Similarly, there are no legal requirements for how rent is to be paid. Copyright Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania 2023. This article is designed to convey information, and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. These rights may not be waived by any provisions of a written rental agreement and the landlord may not charge any fee, service charge or additional rent to the tenant for exercising his rights under this act. Is a security deposit required in Pennsylvania? If youre paying for all utilities, you have a few options: There are different ways to collect payments for utilities, so its important to determine the option thats best for you. And, whats more, youre protected from landlord retaliation for a period of time, too. One method many landlords and property managers use to charge their tenants for utilities is including the estimated cost in the monthly rent. Regarding a year-to-year or definite lease term, at least 30 days notice is required if the landlord wants to make any changes to the lease or terminate the tenancy. Please enter your city, county, or zip code. Candidate shall have prior experience working for an attorney/law firm as a paralegal. If the tenant wins, the tenant is legally entitled to stay on the premises. Discontinuance of Service to Leased Premises Act. Copyright 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Nolo Self-help services may not be permitted in all states. 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. !,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 The bonding company must be authorized to do business in the state of Pennsylvania. However, including utilities in rent will require your assistance if they ever experience issues with utilities. Subleasing occurs when the original tenant rents the unit to another individual. Here is what you need to know: As with other tenants rights issues, you should first read your lease to determine what utilities your landlord is responsible for. A lease or rental agreement should include a "utilities" or a "utilities and repairs" clause that . Do late fees need to be in the written rental agreement? 250.101). In the state of Pennsylvania, a rental agreement is valid wherever a tenant agrees to exchange rent for occupying a property. For one, Pennsylvania doesn't have any laws in regards to a landlord's right to entry, meaning, as a landlord, you can enter your tenants' rented space without serving a prior notice. While there are some small nuances between the two laws, Ballenger says, both are designed to prevent a tenant from losing a vital utility service when a landlord doesnt pay the bill. Check out our newest YouTube video featuring Soli Cayetano, a trusted real estate investor and landlord! See Pennsylvania Security Deposit Limits and Deadlines for more on the subject. If the landlord fails to do so, the utility company must find another way to get this information. If tenants are looking for rentals that include utilities in the rent price, most apartment hunting websites allow tenants to filter listings by that criteria. Furthermore, landlords are required to install: After the tenant has made a request for the landlord to install one of these devices, the landlord must respond within a reasonable amount of time. It must also be in good repair pursuant to the landlords impliedwarranty of habitability, an implied right in every written or oral residential lease. Find outhow to decide if you should allow pets in your rental property. notice between September 1st and April 1st. If necessary, call the Public Utility Commission at 1-800-692-7380. Code, Public Utilities 7-303 In Philadelphia, the landlord-tenant law is governed by the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code (Section PM-102.6.4). In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for the landlord to retaliate against a tenant who has exercised a legal right, including, complaining to a government agency, such as a building or health inspector, about unsafe or illegal living conditions assembling and presenting your views collectivelyfor example, by joining or organizing a tenant union, or. Also, your local public library or office of the city attorney, mayor, or city or county manager can provide information on local ordinances that affect landlords and tenants in Pennsylvania. Thats a statutory right, Ballenger says. Landlords defending a security deposit lawsuit should check out Pennsylvania Landlord's Guide to Security Deposit Disputes in Justice Court. The tenant shall not destroy, deface, damage, impair, or remove any part of the structure or dwelling unit, or the facilities, equipment, or appurtenances. 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. The Pennsylvania Landlord-Tenant Act does not allow for a separate. Please browse PhillyTenant.org before contacting us as your question may have already been answered. Your clause on heat and hot water should also specify who will pay for heat. Tenants are protected through the Public Utility Code for the resale, but other protections may be under the landlord/tenant law. This means that there cannot be a foreign load on the tenants utility billthe tenants wiring cannot include the common areas or another apartment. The landlord must supply the utility company with the names and addresses of the tenants so the utility can provide the tenant with notice. Absent a rental agreement, the landlord is required to provide the tenant with at least 15 days notice of any changes to the lease. If you dispute your bill or disagree with the meter readings, you must notify the utility company and tell them that you dispute the bill. The tenant then has 10 days from the notice date to contact the landlord. Eventually, though, the coronavirus pandemic will end, and so will the shutoff moratoriums even if it isnt clear when that may happen right now. Copyright 2021 Tenant Union Representative Network. In Pennsylvania, there are specific procedures on how to handle abandoned property. The utility company must give your landlord at least 37 days notice that it will be turning off service. 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. And check out our tips to, An adequate description of the leased premises, There is no legal requirement for late fees. LEASES A lease between a landlord and a tenant is a contract to rent property. Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law is pretty landlord-friendly. Making tenants responsible for the utilities can ease some responsibility for the landlord. The landlord should also list the: Tenants living in the rental unit must be at least 18 years old. For details, see Pennsylvania Required Landlord Disclosures. We surveyed our landlords in Pennsylvania to find out what deposit amount they collected: When must a landlord return the deposit by in Pennsylvania? The tenant is not the utility customer and they do not qualify for utility projection such as payment arrangements, Customer Assistance Program, or residential energy efficiency and conservation programs. The tenant may stop the eviction proceedings by paying rent or proving that he or she was not in breach of the lease. Landlord-tenant laws differ by state. So, for the time being, no utility companies should be delivering termination notices to people who have fallen behind on bills due to financial circumstances. 5764 Route 145 , Laurys Station, PA 18059 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. 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. Is there a legal requirement for late fees in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law allows tenants the right to have visitors as long as they continue to observe their other obligations as a tenant. ft. home is a 1 bed, 1.0 bath property. If landlord doesnt pay gas, electric or water bills the tenant should not be required to pay the back bill to keep services on. Both laws protect people in Pennsylvania who use service animals, and tenants are entitled to rely on whichever law gives them the most protections. Our state-specific rental agreements include all the necessary notices and disclosures based on your propertys address. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Pennsylvania Required Landlord Disclosures, Pennsylvania Security Deposit Limits and Deadlines, Filing a Security Deposit Lawsuit in Pennsylvania Justice Court, Pennsylvania Landlord's Guide to Security Deposit Disputes in Justice Court, Pennsylvania Termination for Nonpayment of Rent, and Other Rent Rules, Pennsylvania Tenant Rights to Withhold Rent or "Repair and Deduct", State Laws on Unconditional Quit Terminations, State Laws on Termination for Violation of Lease, Pennsylvania State Laws Prohibiting Landlord Retaliation, abandoned property left behind by tenants, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, tenant protections against landlord retaliation for tenant exercising a legal right, such as complaining about an unsafe living condition (see, fair housing rights (discrimination is also prohibited by federal and, often, local lawsee the. This can simplify things for both landlords and tenants. Any bill you pay to get the service restored can be deducted from your rental payments. 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. Pennsylvania Landlord Tenant Laws are provided in the 68 P.S. However, even if you cannot pay the whole amount owed, you can take steps to keep your utility service on. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". And the ability to contest inaccurate water bills are off limits because your landlord does not permit you to establish a customer relationship" with the water department. Purpose of providing legal advice landlords fail to pay their bills company, can! To receipt of rent payments in Pennsylvania have already been answered and addresses the! 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