The tenant then has 10 days from the notice date to contact the landlord. 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. 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. Its never been easier to create, modify, and sign a rental agreement. Most notably, the code requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the City of Philadelphia Partners for Good Housingbrochure. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Here's what you need to know. Invoice your tenants for the utility bill each month so it perfectly matches how much they use. 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. The Pennsylvania Landlord-Tenant Act does not allow for a separate. Your landlord is not legally allowed to interfere with your utility service, even if you are behind in your rent. If the utility wont give you notice, PhillyTenant.org suggests contacting the Water Revenue Bureau at 215-685-6300 and asking for an informal hearing request form (or, if its Peco or PGW, you can file an informal complaint with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission at 800-692-7380). Additionally, the lead paint and disclosure certification law requires landlords to ensure that any property where children 6 years and younger reside is free of lead. Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951. 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. The landlord is free to charge any rent price agreed upon by the parties because there is no rent control or limit required by the state. Our state-specific rental agreements include all the necessary notices and disclosures based on your propertys address. 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. Read the Law: Md. After you contact the utility, your service should be restored, and you should be sent the 30-day notice. After the first ten days, the landlord may move the items to another location and charge the tenant for storage. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. Tenants are also protected if a landlord calls the water department and asks for service to the property to be turned off. x\Ks# W0n8|#SJ-8T%[lrMu5^ $A [_>B+W]>mOO0:c.M]WO]Uk:}>> kLB>^! 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. For example, if theyre having issues with their internet connection, then you will need to help them troubleshoot the issue. If the lease is one year or more, the landlord must provide 90 days notice. Whenever the landlord sues the tenant, the tenant has the right to defend him or herself. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The Philly Tenant Hotline can be reached at 267-443-2500, and CLS is available at 215-981-3700. 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. Is there a specific interest rate required? Landlords are legally required to provide access to these necessities, but oftentimes the lease will require the tenant to pay for their cost. Your clause on heat and hot water should also specify who will pay for heat. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. 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. Check out our newest YouTube video featuring Soli Cayetano, a trusted real estate investor and landlord! 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". If the landlord fails to do so, the utility company must find another way to get this information. Landlords defending a security deposit lawsuit should check out Pennsylvania Landlord's Guide to Security Deposit Disputes in Justice Court. However, we advise separating these funds. It must also be in good repair pursuant to the landlords impliedwarranty of habitability, an implied right in every written or oral residential lease. 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. Tenants must refrain from any criminal or illegal use of the property, and they should report any maintenance, health, or safety issues to the landlord . 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. Landlord-tenant law in the city of Pittsburgh is the same as statewide law. Utilities included implies the rent price includes the cost of water, electricity, internet, Homeowners Association fees, trash collection, or other utility fees. 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 you receive notice that your utilities will be shut off, you need to act quickly to protect your rights. See Q and A Eviction: My Landlord Has Threatened to Lock Me Out. Learn more about our strategy for building an effective rental listing that highlights whats included in your rent price and maximizes tenant interest. 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. Both laws protect people in Pennsylvania who use service animals, and tenants are entitled to rely on whichever law gives them the most protections. While the landlord is required to return the tenants security deposit, the landlord may withhold all or a portion of a tenants security deposit from the tenant for damage in excess of normal wear and tear, unpaid rent, or breach of lease. That can cause issues for some tenants especially if you are low-income. While the landlord is required to return the tenants security deposit, the landlord may withhold all or a portion of a tenants security deposit from the tenant for damage in excess of normal. 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. 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. Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law is pretty landlord-friendly. She has proven results and has tried many jury trials to verdict. However, the law does change, sometimes quickly and unexpectedly. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. This guide will cover Pennsylvania, as well as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia landlord-tenant law. Landlords are prohibited from harassing or retaliating against tenants who exercise their rights. Landlords are legally required to provide access to these necessities, but oftentimes the lease will require the tenant to pay for their cost. ft. home is a 1 bed, 1.0 bath property. how you can stop the service from being terminated, the landlord's bill for the last 30 days of service, and. Tenants can sue landlords in District Justice Court or Philadelphia Municipal Court (depending upon their location) for the return of their deposit, up to a dollar amount of $12,000. The landlord must notify the tenant of the deductions within 30 days after the tenant has vacated the premises. You can search the table of contents for the landlord-tenant statutes. She is also a member of the Union County NJ Civil . 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. The tenant may be responsible for electric and gas while the landlord is responsible for water and sewer. THE LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT OF 1951 (As amended through July, 2012) 68 P.S. 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. Do landlords in Pennsylvania have to provide notice of entry? State law also says that you can deduct payments you make on the water bill from your rent. Are there laws requiring notice before entry? Previous landlord/tenant judgments and/or current landlord/ tenant references will be checked. Find Smithmill Pennsylvania Landlord & Tenant attorneys near you. Ask to speak to the supervisor and write down the name of the person you speak with. You can create your own lease agreement or access Avail lease agreements that are lawyer-reviewed and state-specific for free. Are there specific security deposit requirements? According to Pennsylvania law, landlords are required to comply with certain requirements in the storage of security deposits. 250.101 - 250.510-B . Specifically, the landlord is required to maintain the stairways, passages, roadways and other common facilities on the premises and further, has the duty of maintaining the premises for safe use. Generally, issues impacting utilities are categorized as a maintenance issue that the landlord will need to help with resolving. If you find that other landlords are not, then including them for your rental may help your rental listing stand out in a competitive market. ?~.mnr ASHxfF"&-DzK&!s.lC|f\w_V18V)RZ)J0H))H{fnLP3J@)CzJ"+n0r~@$oB s)uC]q{o1Q Under the implied warranty of habitability law, the tenants obligation to pay rent and the landlords obligation to maintain habitable (safe, sanitary and fit) premises depend upon each other. 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. The last 30 days after the first ten days, the utility company must find another way to this. And/Or current landlord/ tenant references will be shut off, you need to Act to. Who will pay for their cost, a trusted real estate investor and landlord for example, if having! Good Housingbrochure easier to create, modify, and cookies is used to provide of. 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