Pennsylvania Landlord Guide — Get Your Action Plan in 60 Seconds

Tenant behind on rent? Damage beyond wear and tear? Holding over after the lease ended? Describe the situation in your own words and get a plain-English breakdown, severity rating, step-by-step next steps, and ready-to-send notices — specific to Pennsylvania law.

Pennsylvania landlord law, at a glance

• Security deposit: you must return it within 30 days of move-out, with an itemized statement for deductions.
• Tenant entry: No state law sets a minimum notice period — check your lease, which may require one.
• Eviction: you must go through the courts. Self-help eviction is illegal.

Pennsylvania landlords must return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions within 30 days of lease termination or surrender, whichever comes first (68 P.S. § 250.512); the tenant must provide a written forwarding address, and missing the deadline can cost the landlord double the amount wrongfully withheld. The state sets no minimum notice period for landlord entry — a reasonable 24 hours is customary but not statutory. There is no statutory rent grace period, and deposits are capped at two months' rent in year one, dropping to one month afterward.

Free legal help in Pennsylvania

• Community Legal Services of Philadelphia — (267) 443-2500 — Free landlord-tenant help; Philly Tenant Hotline Mon–Fri 9am–6pm.
• Philly Tenant — (267) 443-2500 — Free legal help for tenants in all Philadelphia ZIP codes; Right to Counsel for some.
• PALawHELP.org — Statewide directory of free/low-cost legal help; Housing and Shelter section.
• Call or text 211 for free local referrals.

Common questions