Landlord Tenant Lawyers Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area
Nationally Recognized Law Firm Backed by 60+ Years Combined Experience
The relationship between landlords and tenants in Pennsylvania is governed
by local, state, and federal law. Under these laws, tenants and landlords
have certain rights, responsibilities, and duties. However, even in the
most amicable and professional landlord tenant relationships, misunderstandings
and conflicts can arise. Having a clear and detailed rental agreement
or lease can lessen disagreements and discord. Each side will have clarity
about their rights and duties and know what is expected of them.
If you need help with any aspect of your role as a landlord or tenant in
or around the larger Pittsburgh area, you can turn to Blaine Jones Law, LLC.
Our Pittsburg landlord tenant attorneys can draft, review, or help you
enforce a rental agreement or lease, provide counsel for disputes between
yourself and the other party, represent you in an eviction action through
the courts, and provide general guidance as to your rights and duties
in any landlord-tenant circumstance. Our legal team is trial-tested and brings decades of collective criminal
and civil legal experience to your case.
Need legal help with a landlord-tenant issue? Reach out to us at (412)
475-0062 to discuss the matter or schedule your free consultation online.
Landlord Tenant Law in Pennsylvania
Blaine Jones Law, LLC can provide legal representation in all the many
areas of landlord tenant relations. The laws regarding these include (but
are not limited to) the following:
- Disclosures that are required by landlords
- Limits and deadline return for security deposits
- Security deposit lawsuit filings for tenants
- Security deposit dispute guidelines for landlords
- Rent rules, including Termination for Nonpayment of Rent
- Tenant rights regarding “repair and deduct” for broken or dysfunctional
equipment, amenities, or services
- Termination and eviction rules, including Unconditional Quit Terminations
and Termination for Violation of Lease
- Prohibition of landlord retaliation
- How to handle abandoned property left behind by tenants
- Fair housing rights regarding federal discrimination laws
Many of these topics are covered under Pennsylvania’s “Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951.”
Examples of Important Landlord Tenant Issues
Below are examples of important information regarding various landlord
tenant issues outlined under Pennsylvania law. Our firm can help you understand
the issues you are facing and take proper legal action to help you resolve
them with the other party as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
- Landlords are generally required to disclose the name and address of the
bank they use to keep a tenant’s security deposit.
- Landlords can charge two months’ rent as a security deposit for the
tenant’s first year and one month’s rent as a deposit for
the following years that the tenant remains.
- Security deposits must be returned to tenants within 30 days after a tenant
vacates the unit.
- Tenants have the right to sue landlords for the return of their security deposit.
- Tenants generally have 10 days to pay the landlord any rent that is overdue
before an eviction process can begin.
- Landlords are obligated to maintain the unit and whatever equipment or
amenities are provided in the rental agreement or lease in good condition
(stoves, refrigerators, heater, A/C units, etc.). If they fail to do so,
tenants have the right to withhold rent or repair what’s broken
and deduct the expense from the rent.
- Landlords may only terminate a tenancy under specific conditions, such
as for nonpayment of rent or other violations of the written lease or
rental agreement. Arbitrary reasons for an eviction are generally prohibited.
Need Help with Your Landlord Tenant Issue? Call Blaine Jones Law, LLC.
No matter what side of the issue you are, our firm can provide the answers
and guidance you need to resolve any conflict that may surface in the
landlord tenant relationship. It is obviously best for everyone involved
to handle disagreements or problems as quickly as possible to avoid the
complication of legal fees, court costs, and court schedules. We are here
to enhance those efforts as well as to provide the aggressive representation
you need should the matter extend to civil litigation.
Ready to talk it over with one of our attorneys? Call us at (412) 475-0062 today.