Landlords are required to change the locks before a new tenant moves in. Furthermore, the Pennsylvania landlord-tenant laws don't currently include state rent . The landlord must be given notice of defects and a reasonable opportunity to make repairs, but he does not have to promise to repair before the tenant withholds rent. The notice must be given in writing and must state the nature of the repair. If your service has already been shut off, this will require the utility company to restore your service. Whenever the landlord sues the tenant, the tenant has the right to defend him or herself. 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. 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. Tenants are protected through the Public Utility Code for the resale, but other protections may be under the landlord/tenant law. See Q and A Eviction: My Landlord Has Threatened to Lock Me Out. The utility company is only required to provide you with one payment agreement for the same debt. 250.101-250.602. Whether the landlord is required to pay the tenant interest on a security deposit depends. Can My Landlord Shut Off My Utilities Because I Am Behind in Rent? 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. 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.]. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This clause informs the tenant that you agree to provide access to heat and hot water. However, if the lease does not state how much notice is required, the general rule is as follows: Next, the landlord files the complaint with the appropriate District Justices office. However, we do advise that you check your local jurisdiction for rental license laws in case it is required locally. Streamline the processes of managing a rental property by leveraging Avail landlord software. stream Finally, check USA.gov, the official U.S. website for government information. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Are there any provisions regarding rent control in Pennsylvania? See mold pamphlet here. These are some common laws on utilities: If you do decide to include utilities in the rent price, your lease agreement should inform the tenant on who pays what. Got a question? This responsibility of the landlord extends not only to the individual tenant, but also to his family, servants and employees, business visitors, and social guests. Cities and counties often pass local ordinances, such as health and safety standards, noise and nuisance regulations, and antidiscrimination rules that affect landlords and tenants. Alternatively, a landlord may also be able to post the tenant's deposit as a bond. Ask to set up a payment agreement. Dealing with Abandoned Belongings If there are tenant's belongings left on the property after the lease has terminated OR the tenant has abandoned the property, the landlord must send the tenant a written notice by first mail informing him or her of the belongings. Tenants who have lived at the dwelling unit for less than 1 year must be served a 15 days' [2] notice to vacate. Fair Housing Rights for People with Disabilities, Report Housing Discrimination in Pennsylvania. Its never been easier to create, modify, and sign a rental agreement. Are rental agreements required in Pennsylvania? If the tenant does not contact the landlord within ten days, the landlord may dispose of the items and absolves him or herself of all future responsibility. The tenant may be responsible for electric and gas while the landlord is responsible for water and sewer. 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. They are also liable if the utility company has given written notice to the tenant that such utility service is about to be cut off because of the landlord's nonpayment of the utility bill. If your current rent price is on the higher end for your area, then adding utilities may limit the number of tenants that can afford to rent your property. What are the general lease provisions in Pennsylvania? Track rental income and expenses in one place If a rental unit is not individually metered, then the landlord is responsible for the utility billincluding any past due balance. qO!O5nVd W!AHf O(?Vrar(riiZ`>u"qH B qm_o The Philly Tenant Hotline can be reached at 267-443-2500, and CLS is available at 215-981-3700. 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 tenant needs to have that period of time to think through their options.. The state statutes provide definitions of terms related to landlord tenant laws (also known as PA rental laws), the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants as well as violations and remedies under Pennsylvania Landlord Tenant Law. There is no required grace period. Landlord-tenant law in Philadelphia is essentially the same as Pennsylvania state law, with a few minor exceptions: Housing rental licenses are required for any type of housing rental in Philadelphia. During the first year of any lease, the landlord may only charge a security deposit less than or equal to two months rent. Landlords are prohibited from harassing or retaliating against tenants who exercise their rights. But remember, as a tenant, you do have some rights. Pennsylvania has an estimated 12.8 million residents. WearingApparel,Bibles;SchoolBooks,Sewing MachinesandMilitaryAccoutrementstobeExempt. Even for leases that are less than 12 months, we encourage our landlords to enter into written rental agreements with their tenants for added legal security. Prior to getting this license, applicants should obtain a commercial activity license, business tax account number, federal tax identification number, or social security number, for individuals and zoning approval for two or more units. Typical duties of the landlord. 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. notice between September 1st and April 1st. See Q and A Eviction: My Landlord Has Threatened to Lock Me Out. The tenant also shall have right to invite to his apartment or dwelling unit, for a reasonable period of time, such social guest, family or visitors as he wishes, as long as he or she complies with applicable law. If the tenant contacts the landlord within the 10-day period, the landlord must allow the tenant a total of thirty days (the first ten plus twenty more) to get the items. 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. Streamline Rent Collection for Your Rental For example, if your normal rent is $300 per month, you can countersue the landlord for $600. 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. Both laws protect people in Pennsylvania who use service animals, and tenants are entitled to rely on whichever law gives them the most protections. Read on to learn more about Pennsylvania tenant rights laws. 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. Usually, that means a possible or impending shutoff. State and Local Government on the Net and Municode are good sources for finding local governments online. Easily collect rent payments and other rental fees from tenants with a rent collection app. What are the rules and regulations pertaining to receipt of rent payments in Pennsylvania? There are no provisions regarding rent control in Pennsylvania. Thats a statutory right, Ballenger says. evidence and priority of payment as is provided by law in the case of the mortgaging of . Tara has attended NITA (2018). 250.101 to 399.18. The notice you receive must contain the following information: You have the right to deduct your payments to the utility company from your future rent payments. 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. . Landlord-tenant laws differ by state. 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