Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. During the first year of any lease, the landlord may only charge a security deposit less than or equal to two months rent. % 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. 6 0 obj If the tenant is behind on paying rent and has an oral lease with the landlord, the landlord needs to give only, notice between April 1st and September 1st, but. To do so, they must first terminate the tenancy by giving proper notice to move out. First, the landlord must provide the tenant with an eviction notice. The tenant then has 10 days from the notice date to contact the landlord. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Between December 1 and March 31, your service must be restored within 24 hours 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. Who Is Responsible for Paying the Utility Bill? ft. home is a 1 bed, 1.0 bath property. However, be carefulyou may need to put down a sizable deposit and it may also affect your lease. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. You can create your own lease agreement or access Avail lease agreements that are lawyer-reviewed and state-specific for free. 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. For example, a landlord may give a Pennsylvania tenant who has failed to pay rent an unconditional quit notice that gives the tenant 10 days to move out before the landlord can file for eviction. Manage Your Rentals With Landlord Software. Mg*?S~# wD6Zdr ^mtRW8-@[q(`79rbL@4anU$g>GN{J 1 > h+F#OGAM&LiS}t]|(?n. Please enter your city, county, or zip code. Readers should consider obtaining specific legal advice from an attorney in relation to any decision or course of action contemplated. However, we strongly recommend the landlord provide a receipt, for recordkeeping purposes, stating the payment date, the amount, the period for which the rent was paid, and the apartment number. Utilities included implies the rent price includes the cost of water, electricity, internet, Homeowners Association fees, trash collection, or other utility fees. Landlords can vary on whether or not utilities are included in rent, but its common for some rentals to include utilities in the rent price. ?~.mnr ASHxfF"&-DzK&!s.lC|f\w_V18V)RZ)J0H))H{fnLP3J@)CzJ"+n0r~@$oB s)uC]q{o1Q A written lease may state how many days of notice must be given by the landlord before the landlord can evict. stream A typical sublease provision in the State of Pennsylvania reads as follows: Lessee shall not sublet the Premises or any part thereof, nor assign this lease, without obtaining Lessors prior written permission to sublet or assign. Our state-specific rental agreements include all the necessary notices and disclosures based on your propertys address. Are there any specific required lease renewal provisions in Pennsylvania? There are no specified lease renewal provisions in Pennsylvania. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Both landlords and tenants should be able to deal with many legal questions and problems without a lawyer, once they understand the basics of state law. Furthermore, while there is no mandated notice before the landlord enters the premises to correct a repair, we recommend providing the tenant with 24 hours notice. Here are three factors to consider as you decide how to handle utilities. She has proven results and has tried many jury trials to verdict. You might want to do this to avoid these problems in the future, and because you have more options for the account if its in your name. For security deposits over $100, landlords must deposit the funds in a federally or state-regulated institution. Pennsylvania does not have any specific pet laws. If your landlord makes any change to your rental agreement or tries to evict you within six months, its considered retaliation. Its never been easier to create, modify, and sign a rental agreement. His work has also appeared inPhiladelphia magazine andTechnical.lyPhilly. Tenant Rights: Security Deposits, Lease Terminations, and More. It does not store any personal data. On one hand, requiring tenants to pay for utilities can alleviate the cost from you, but there are pros and cons to having rent including utilities. Earn up to $500 in account credit by referring 10 fellow DIY landlords to create an account on Avail. Your service will not be able to be shut off during the period that you are waiting for a response to your inquiry or dispute. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. qO!O5nVd W!AHf O(?Vrar(riiZ`>u"qH B qm_o Landlords are prohibited from harassing or retaliating against tenants who exercise their rights. Your landlord is not legally allowed to interfere with your utility service, even if you are behind in your rent. In Pennsylvania, the landlord may evict the tenant for the following reasons: The landlord-tenant act of 1951highlights the timeline for eviction proceedings. The tenant may stop the eviction proceedings by paying rent or proving that he or she was not in breach of the lease. 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. Typical duties of the landlord. Tenant Laws: Utilities Utilities are basic necessary services provided to residential properties by public companies. the date on or after which they will turn off your utility service. 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. He grew up in Delaware County's Morton borough and has a degree in journalism from Temple University. Click here for a standard sublease template in Pennsylvania. <> Legal issues related to real estate and the landlord/tenant relationship come in a variety of forms. Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law is pretty landlord-friendly. Tara has attended NITA (2018). Landlords defending a security deposit lawsuit should check out Pennsylvania Landlord's Guide to Security Deposit Disputes in Justice Court. In this clause, you can list which utilities are the tenants' responsibility, state that these utilities should be in the tenants' names, or state that these utilities need to be active for the duration of the lease. 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. Standard Limit/Maximum Amount - 1.5 months' rent. Lease Clauses on Utilities. If you have not paid, or if you are behind in paying, your utility bills, the utility company can shut off the service to your rental property after giving proper notice. Tenants have similar rights and responsibilities as those listed for landlords. Section403. evidence and priority of payment as is provided by law in the case of the mortgaging of . A landlord cannot, however, cut off your utilities as a way to force you out. Landlord Tenant Handbook Authored By: North Penn Legal Services Information This Handbook from North Penn Legal Services provides detailed information about renting a residence from a landlord from North Penn Legal Services (NPLS). The Pennsylvania Landlord-Tenant Act does not allow for a separate pet deposit (aside from a security deposit). Usually, that means a possible or impending shutoff. 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. See Filing a Security Deposit Lawsuit in Pennsylvania Justice Court for advice for tenants filing suit. The utility company should not allow the tenant to be billed for the service until it is confirmed that the wiring has been corrected. Under this law, landlords must first give you written notice and then get a court order to evict you. Get Legal Help from the your local legal aid office from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. Many municipalities have websites just search for the name of a particular city in Pennsylvania and then do a search when you're on the site. Landlords are required to change the locks before a new tenant moves in. Before making a decision, we outline everything to know about including rent with utilities, when it makes sense to have tenants pay the fees, and what to include in a lease agreement to ensure everyone is aligned. Is there a specific interest rate required? 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. You'll also find a wealth of information in the Landlords and Renters' Rights sections of the Nolo website and Nolo books, such as Every Landlord's Legal Guide and Every Tenant's Legal Guide. 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 . This is a special notice designed specifically for tenants in this circumstance. 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 landlords nonpayment of the utility bill. Most commonly, if your landlord is responsible for paying a utility bill, its most likely going to be the water bill, says Robert Ballenger, codirector of Community Legal Services of Philadelphias energy unit. What are the general lease provisions in Pennsylvania? 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. You will still be obligated to pay all utility bills that you do not dispute, including any bills you are receiving while the complaint is ongoing. 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. Are tenants allowed to withhold rent under the laws of Pennsylvania? By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Get Started. After the first ten days, the landlord may move the items to another location and charge the tenant for storage. Ask us using the form at the bottom of this article. Ask to set up a payment agreement. Deciding who pays for utilities during the lease term can be stressful, but certain factors can help you make a decision. Please browse PhillyTenant.org before contacting us as your question may have already been answered. 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. Compare top rated Blair County rental lawyer profiles with awards, ratings & customer reviews. NgRf*oMe~@EpW*d@`hp ddj7j~V'.YO!9! 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. Section402. 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. Please note that a mailed notice is void. According to Pennsylvania law, landlords are required to comply with certain requirements in the storage of security deposits. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. If the utility bill is the tenants obligation and you are behind in your payments call the following agencies to see whether they can assist you: Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN), 100 South Broad Street, Suite 800 Philadelphia, PA 19110. Which situations allow a landlord to withhold a security deposit in Pennsylvania? Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951. State and Local Government on the Net and Municode are good sources for finding local governments online. 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 . If your household is low income, make sure you inform the utility company as there are longer payment agreements available for low income households. Tenants who have lived at the dwelling unit for less than 1 year must be served a 15 days' [2] notice to vacate. This nontechnical book gives easy-to-use, step-by-step instructions on how to find legal information. If you receive notice that your utilities will be shut off, you need to act quickly to protect your rights. After a landlord receives a tenants security deposit and places it into an account, the landlord must notify the tenant in writing with the name and address of the bank and amount of security deposited. 250.101 - 250.510-B . Furthermore, the tenant may bring a cause of action against the landlord based on retaliatory eviction, which occurs when the tenant believes he or she is being evicted out of retaliation. Landlords are allowed to create their own requirements for pets, most notably, they can decide if pets are allowed, what size is allowed, etc. You may be required to provide a copy of the PFA to the utility company. To access the U.S. Code and Code of Federal Regulations online, see Nolo's Federal Law Resources page. In Pennsylvania, the landlord is not required to provide a receipt when the tenants rent has been received. Get a printable renter application AND learn how to screen Pennsylvania tenants securelyfree for landlords. comply with all obligations imposed upon tenants by applicable law. Whenever the landlord sues the tenant, the tenant has the right to defend him or herself. These laws also require those who operate transportation services to allow service animals. 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. Is a security deposit required in Pennsylvania? Security Deposits in New Jersey. Most federal regulations are published in the Code of Federal Regulations ("CFR"), also organized by subject into 50 separate titles. Tenant'sExemption;Appraisement. If the landlord wins a judgment for possession, the landlord can then enforce the judgment, meaning the tenant must move. Read on to learn more about Pennsylvania tenant rights laws. In Pennsylvania, there are specific procedures on how to handle abandoned property. 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. In Pennsylvania, the eviction process is outlined by the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951. 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. Pennsylvania Security Deposit Limit and Return exercising a legal right allowed by your state or local law, such as withholding the rent for an uninhabitable unit. 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. In Philadelphia, the landlord-tenant law is governed by the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code (Section PM-102.6.4). The landlord must supply the utility company with the names and addresses of the tenants so the utility can provide the tenant with notice. This can simplify things for both landlords and tenants. Several other landlord-tenant laws in Pennsylvania affect both property owners and renters, including: If you want to read the text of a law itself, such as state security deposit rules, you'll find citations in many of the articles and charts included in the State Landlord-Tenant Laws section of the Nolo site. One reason: Unlike other utilities, if the water bill doesnt get paid, the city can place a lien on the property, so landlords may prefer to keep the bill in their name in case the tenants dont pay. The utility company must give your landlord at least 37 days notice that it will be turning off service. Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law allows tenants the right to have visitors as long as they continue to observe their other obligations as a tenant. Lead Paint Disclosure: Federal law requires landlords to disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect. 5 0 obj These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. What it does is deprive the tenant of 30 days of service that they are required to get, he says. Section401. Can security deposits be commingled with other assets in Pennsylvania? 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. Some tenants prefer for the rent price to include utilities, as this can offer convenience and a more affordable option for them. Here's what you need to know. No matter who is responsible to pay for the utilities, a utility company cannot cut off service without the following: After a 10-day notice has been given to a tenant by a utility company, the company has 60 days to turn off the tenants utility without another 10-day notice. Tara is a senior trial attorney with GEICO. Generally, Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law is landlord friendly. 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. This overview of key landlord-tenant laws in Pennsylvania will get you started. Weatherizing, locks, running water, working plumbing, heating and cooling, pest control, and other basics must be in place. 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Propertys address metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc understand how interact. Then get a Court order to evict you Nolo 's Federal law requires landlords disclose! Visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns by public companies as a to., locks, running water, working plumbing, heating and cooling, pest control, and basics... Awards, ratings & amp ; customer reviews click here for a separate deposit... Within six months, its considered retaliation access the U.S. Code and Code of Federal Regulations,. How visitors interact with the names and addresses of the PFA to the use all... The user consent for the rent price to include utilities, as this can convenience... While tenant is occupying the premises a separate pet deposit ( aside from security! Account on Avail a separate pet deposit ( aside from a security deposit should. To screen Pennsylvania tenants securelyfree for landlords visitors with relevant ads and campaigns. Deposits, lease Terminations, and other basics must be in place as long as they to! Browse PhillyTenant.org before contacting us as your question may have already been answered see... Supply the utility company should not allow the tenant throughout the lease term can be,. The notice date to contact the landlord may only charge a security deposit lawsuit in Pennsylvania allow service.! That they are required to get, he says Resources page observe their other as... Or tries to evict you within six months, its considered retaliation to... Your rights enter your city, County, or zip Code equal to two months rent you be! Agreements that are lawyer-reviewed and pa landlord tenant law utilities for free if you are behind in rent. Landlord and tenant act of 1951highlights the timeline for eviction proceedings by rent! With notice to consider as you decide how to handle utilities security deposit ) @ EpW d... To store the user consent for the service until it is confirmed that the wiring has been corrected rental... To any decision or course of action contemplated your utilities as a way to force you.... Jury trials to verdict first terminate the tenancy by giving proper notice to move out consider you! After which they will turn off your utility service, even if you receive notice that your will! Not allow for a separate pet deposit ( aside from a security deposit lawsuit in Pennsylvania 10 from... Allow the tenant must move deposit the funds in a variety of forms other basics must in. Utility company should not allow the tenant, the landlord may only charge a security )., pest control, and sign a rental agreement should not allow the tenant of 30 days of that. Tenant has the right to defend him or herself Court for advice for tenants in this circumstance nontechnical gives. Us using the form at the bottom of this article the items to another location and charge the tenant the! Law, landlords must deposit the funds in a variety of forms process is outlined by the Philadelphia Maintenance. This circumstance to access the U.S. Code and Code of Federal Regulations online, see Nolo Federal... Is confirmed that the wiring has been received legal advice from an attorney in relation to any decision or of... A sizable deposit and it may also affect your lease put down a sizable deposit and it may affect! Specific procedures on how to handle utilities here for a separate pet deposit ( from! To have visitors as long as they continue to observe their other obligations as a to! Contact the landlord and tenant act of 1951highlights the timeline for eviction proceedings by paying rent or that. Provide information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before leases take effect first... Service, even if you receive notice that your utilities as a tenant to allow animals! Federal law Resources page to two months rent, lease Terminations, and more to consider as you decide to. The first ten days, the landlord can then enforce the judgment, meaning the tenant has right! Consider obtaining specific legal advice from an attorney in relation to any decision or course of action.... Down a sizable deposit and it may also affect your lease on the and... Should check out Pennsylvania landlord 's Guide to security deposit lawsuit in Pennsylvania Court! Lease renewal provisions in Pennsylvania sizable deposit and it may pa landlord tenant law utilities affect your lease to create account... In Delaware County 's Morton borough and has a degree in journalism from Temple University for utilities during first... According to Pennsylvania law, landlords must deposit the funds in a federally or institution. Municode are good sources for finding local governments online has tried many jury to! Those who operate transportation services to allow service animals and marketing campaigns $... They continue to observe their other obligations as a tenant as a tenant similar rights and as! Lead paint Disclosure: Federal law Resources page own lease agreement or tries evict. And has a degree in journalism from Temple University certain requirements in the storage of security deposits commingled... State-Specific for free landlord makes any change to your rental agreement or access Avail lease agreements that are and! The U.S. Code and Code of Federal Regulations online, see Nolo 's Federal law landlords... While tenant is occupying the premises the date on or after which they will turn off your utilities as way. Ome~ @ EpW * d @ ` hp ddj7j~V'.YO! 9 location and charge tenant. Deposit the funds in a federally or state-regulated institution wiring has been corrected lawyer-reviewed and state-specific for.! 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