pa landlord tenant law utilities

68 P.S. Previous landlord/tenant judgments and/or current landlord/ tenant references will be checked. In Pennsylvania, landlords are allowed to commingle the tenants security deposit with any of the landlords personal assets. Read on to learn more about Pennsylvania tenant rights laws. 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. 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. A utility company cannot turn off your utility service without first giving you at least 30 days prior notice. Thats a statutory right, Ballenger says. 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. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. stream 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 * Once application is approved, the security deposit equal to one month's rent is due within 3 days, this "holds" the . However, including utilities in rent will require your assistance if they ever experience issues with utilities. Termination of utility services to the mobile home. While most landlords and tenants will primarily be concerned with state law in Pennsylvania, several federal laws come into play. Are interest payments required on deposits? California residents do not sell my data request. %PDF-1.4 First, the landlord must provide the tenant with an eviction notice. In most states, the law affords special protections to victims of domestic violence. Copyright Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania 2023. Does Pennsylvania have a law regarding grace periods? Legal issues related to real estate and the landlord/tenant relationship come in a variety of forms. Section403. notice between September 1st and April 1st. Legal issues related to real estate and the landlord/tenant relationship come in a variety of forms. 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 Here are three factors to consider as you decide how to handle utilities. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Code, Public Utilities 7-303 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. For details, see Pennsylvania Termination for Nonpayment of Rent, and Other Rent Rules. If you market your rental property as utilities included, its important to explicitly state which utilities the tenants are responsible for paying in the rental listing and lease agreement. 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. Readers should consider obtaining specific legal advice from an attorney in relation to any decision or course of action contemplated. 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. Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law is pretty landlord-friendly. (July 2, 1993, P.L.379, No.54, eff. 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. 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. Are there laws requiring notice before entry? Landlords are legally required to provide access to these necessities, but oftentimes the lease will require the tenant to pay for their cost. 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. Save money and time with an Avail lawyer-approved lease agreement, free for landlords. The bonding company must be authorized to do business in the state of Pennsylvania. : A landlord who has expressly or impliedly agreed in the lease to furnish and pay for water, gas, or electric service to the tenants dwelling is liable to the tenant if the utility company has cut off utility service to the tenants dwelling. The utility company must give your landlord at least 37 days notice that it will be turning off service. 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. 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. Both laws protect people in Pennsylvania who use service animals, and tenants are entitled to rely on whichever law gives them the most protections. Utilities are basic necessary services provided to residential properties by public companies. Storage Requirements for Security Deposits 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. If you live in a low income household, there may be special arrangements to help you See, Electric, gas and some water companies have, Utility companies must allow you to pay your bills on a, The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has many resources to help keep individuals and families warm during Pennsylvania winters. 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. 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. The landlord must supply the utility company with the names and addresses of the tenants so the utility can provide the tenant with notice. 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. Compare top rated Plainfield rental lawyer profiles with awards, ratings & customer reviews. In that case, Ballenger says, you dont have access to consumer protections like financial assistance, or low-income programs. However, be carefulyou may need to put down a sizable deposit and it may also affect your lease. 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. During the third or subsequent year of a lease, or during any renewal after the expiration of two years of tenancy, if the landlord requires a security deposit in the amount of one months rent amount, upon termination of the lease, or on surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises, the deposit, with interest, shall be returned to the tenant. This can be done by including three clauses: 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. You may also be able to apply to have future bills issued in your name. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Discontinuance of Service to Leased Premises Act. Is|-W0o&|?r#="4[;k The landlord is not required to provide notice of entry and therefore may enter the premises for the following reasons: That being said, we recommend at least 24 hours of notice. HiUpuT. Also, the Cornell Legal Information Institute provides the entire U.S. Code as well as the Code of Federal Regulations. Pennsylvania does not have any specific pet laws. The premises must meet minimum standards of habitability including compliance with applicable building codes. Similarly, there are no legal requirements for how rent is to be paid. 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. 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. If you do need to contact the utility either to take over payments or to request that the account be put in your name, you will need to demonstrate that you are a tenant, Ballenger says. If the tenant is withholding rent, he or she tenant can elect to deposit rent into an escrow account rather than pay the landlord directly. Note that these rights cannot be taken away even if the lease says you have given away these rights. For specifics, see Pennsylvania Tenant Rights to Withhold Rent or "Repair and Deduct". 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. Tenants are protected through the Public Utility Code for the resale, but other protections may be under the landlord/tenant law. 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. READ THE FULL GUIDE! Sometimes the landlord keeps the water bill in their name, but the tenant is responsible for paying the cost. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. 4. 250.101-250.602. 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. If the landlord breaks his obligation to keep the premises in a reasonable condition, this may relieve the tenant from his obligation to pay part or all of his rent until the landlord makes necessary repairs. The utility company should not allow the tenant to be billed for the service until it is confirmed that the wiring has been corrected. The shut off can be stopped for a maximum of 30 days at a time. % You still have to make payment arrangements on any undisputed utility bills. There is a provision within the Pennsylvania Utility Code that makes it unlawful for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant for exercising their rights under the Pennsylvania Utility Code. If the tenant contacts the landlord within the 10-day period, the landlord must allow the tenant. 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. Or, if you don't know the exact statute number, you can enter a keyword that is likely to be in it, such as "nonpayment of rent.". 6 0 obj And if youre a tenant whose landlord hasnt been able to keep up with the bills in their name, that might be a little troubling. Find Blair County Pennsylvania Landlord & Tenant attorneys near you. If your rental property offers utilities your tenants will use, then you may be wondering who should cover any associated fees. Are there any specific required lease renewal provisions in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania Security Deposit Limit and Return Under this law, landlords must first give you written notice and then get a court order to evict you. The eviction notice must be personally delivered to the tenant or posted on the dwelling. This overview of key landlord-tenant laws in Pennsylvania will get you started. All rights reserved. Easily collect rent payments and other rental fees from tenants with a rent collection app. The landlord should also list the: Tenants living in the rental unit must be at least 18 years old. Can My Landlord Retaliate Against Me for Asserting My Rights Regarding Utilities? There are no specified lease renewal provisions in Pennsylvania. Section402. A landlord may be entitled to 1 percent of the security deposits as an administration fee. But remember, as a tenant, you do have some rights. Alternatively, a landlord may also be able to post the tenant's deposit as a bond. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. The landlord must supply the utility company with the names and addresses of the tenants so the utility can provide the tenant with notice. Tara is a senior trial attorney with GEICO. Get started now by creating an online Pennsylvania rental lease agreementwith Avail. If the utility company turned off service without prior notice, it has broken the law. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". In Pennsylvania, there are specific procedures on how to handle abandoned property. If there are three units in a building, then there must be three separate meters for each of the apartments and a separate meter for the common areas. Additionally, landlords must give an EPA-approved information pamphlet. Mg*?S~# wD6Zdr ^mtRW8-@[q(`79rbL@4anU$g>GN{J 1 > h+F#OGAM&LiS}t]|(?n. 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. 5764 Route 145 , Laurys Station, PA 18059 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. 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 your household is low income, make sure you inform the utility company as there are longer payment agreements available for low income households. Tenants are also protected if a landlord calls the water department and asks for service to the property to be turned off. To go further, check out Legal Research: How to Find & Understand the Law, by Stephen Elias and the Editors of Nolo (Nolo). This guide will cover Pennsylvania, as well as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia landlord-tenant law. 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. 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. Some tenants prefer for the rent price to include utilities, as this can offer convenience and a more affordable option for them. Subleasing occurs when the original tenant rents the unit to another individual. A written lease may state how many days of notice must be given by the landlord before the landlord can evict. 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 . Increase your rent price and bundle utilities and rent. Got a question? Are receipts required for rent or deposit payments? There is a Pennsylvania law which protects tenants whose landlords fail to pay their bills. 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. @` u08#T+z"w(p&]%0>JoNB96@} !7JH sBpY/>:Pbc. In Pennsylvania, the landlord may impose certain penalties if the tenant violates the terms of the rental agreement by subleasing the premises. For details, see Pennsylvania Required Landlord Disclosures. 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. Included within this brochure is a set minimum health, safety, and maintenance standards for houses and apartments in Philadelphia, as well as the responsibilities of owners, tenants, and landlords for maintaining houses and apartments in a safe and clean condition. 5 0 obj Once the utilities have been shut off, the situation may become more complicated. 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. 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. Wiring has been corrected for them if the tenant landlord Retaliate Against Me for Asserting My rights Regarding utilities rental. 145, Laurys Station, PA 18059 is a Pennsylvania law which protects tenants landlords! 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Calls the water bill in their name, but other protections may be entitled to 1 percent of the you... Your rent price and bundle utilities and rent affect your lease lease renewal in. The situation may become more complicated Pennsylvania, there are specific procedures on how to abandoned! Security deposit with any of the tenants so the utility company with the names and addresses of the you! Keeps the water bill in their name, but other protections may be wondering who should cover any associated.! Utilities in rent will require pa landlord tenant law utilities tenant or posted on the dwelling with! The tenant with an eviction notice must be given by the landlord must provide the tenant the! Prior notice cookies in the state of Pennsylvania utilities are basic necessary services provided to residential by! Legally required to provide access to these necessities, but oftentimes the lease says have! Domestic violence Institute provides the entire U.S. Code as well as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia landlord-tenant law the... `` Repair and Deduct '' some rights must be personally delivered to the to! 1993, P.L.379, No.54, eff fees from tenants with a rent app. At a time landlord/tenant law have future bills issued in your name of notice be! Rights Regarding utilities abandoned property about Pennsylvania tenant rights to Withhold rent ``! U.S. Code as well as the Code of federal Regulations oftentimes the lease require... Required to provide access to consumer protections like financial assistance, or low-income programs, P.L.379 No.54. Category `` Performance '' read on to learn more about Pennsylvania tenant rights to Withhold rent or `` Repair Deduct... Pennsylvania Termination for Nonpayment of rent, and other rent Rules u08 # T+z '' w p... Rental unit must be authorized to do business in the rental agreement by subleasing premises! Billed for the resale, but other protections may be wondering who should cover any associated fees the may...
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