Philadelphia Rental Laws

Knowing your rights is not only applicable to one thing but it encompasses a majority of our day to
day activities. This may mean knowing your right as a consumer, as a person and so on and so forth.
Knowing you right when it comes to renting a property gives you the edge over your landlord. This
means that in cases where your landlord does something unlawful; you have the right to complain
about it but you also need to make sure you are also complying with the rules regarding your rental.
Below is a brief summary of the State's law.

Deposit

· Your security deposit amounts to 2 months' rent during your first year in the property and
1 month's rent to the following years. (68 P.S. §§ 250.511a)
· You need to give 30 days upon end of lease to get your security deposit. As a tenant, you
have the privilege of getting an interest "after the second anniversary of giving a deposit"
while the landlord will get a total of 1% per year when the security money is deposited as
"administrative expenses". (68 P.S. §§ 250.511b(b))

· Funds over $100 that are dormant for 2 years must be put in an "escrow account federally
or state-regulated institution" .
· Landlords need to put in writing to let their tenants know the name and address of the
bank where these deposits will be held as well as the amount of said deposits.

Rental Lease and Fees

· Returned check fee as are allowed but it can't exceed $50 except when the landlord is
being charged of fees higher than $50 by financial organizations.
· If you are a tenant and there are problems with your dwelling; you are allowed to withhold
rent. You can opt to deposit your rent into an escrow account than directly paying your
landlord. (68 P.S. §§ 250.206)
· If you suddenly vacated your property without notice and without a contact information to
use by your landlord, he holds the right to give notice where possible and you have ten days
to contact your landlord upon date of postmark of the notice.
· If you don't contact your landlord "within the allowed ten days", your landlord holds the
right to dispose all your items and he has no other responsibilty for said items.
*This law is applicable when either (1) "the landlord has received a judgment in an eviction case and
has executed an order for possession," or (2) "the tenant has given written notice that he has left
the home."