Attorneys

Pennsylvania Landlord/Tenant FAQs

• Q: Can A Landlord Lock A Tenant Out Of An Apartment Without Taking Them To Court?
  A: No. Self­help eviction is illegal in Pennsylvania and can give rise to an Unfair Trade Practices cause of action against the landlord as well as a cause of action … More
• Q: Can A Landlord Keep A Security Deposit?
  A: It depends upon the tenant`s actions and the terms of the written lease (if any). If the lease does not forbid a landlord to keep a security deposit for unpaid rent, … More
• Q: Can A Tenant Sue A Landlord For Withholding The Security Deposit?
  A: Pennsylvania law allows tenant to sue a landlord for two times the actual security deposit held if the landlord does not provide an itemized list of damages and … More
• Q: Must A Landlord Give Written Notice To Quit To A Tenant Before Suing For Eviction?
  A: Not necessarily. If the lease contains a Notice to Quit provision, the lease may specify that no notice is required before the landlord take the tenant to the District … More
• Q: How Long Does An Eviction Take?
  A: Depending on whether the landlord must given the tenant written Notice to Quit, or not, the eviction could take as follows; 10+ days for the Notice to Quit, … More
• Q: Can A Landlord Recover Attorney Fees From A Bad Tenant?
  A: Yes. If the lease provides for attorney fees for a landlord upon the tenant`s breach of the lease, the landlord may recover attorney fees. Attorney fee provisions must … More
• Q: Can A Landlord Garnish A Tenant's Wages?
  A: Yes (in limited circumstances). A landlord may garnish the wages of a tenant if the tenant does damage to the leasehold property, and the landlord successfully sues … More
• Q: Can A Tenant Appeal An Eviction Action And Stay In The Premises?
  A: Yes. As a matter of law in Pennsylvania, all District Justice judgments are appeal­able as a matter of right, regardless of a legal reason for appeal. A tenant who … More
• Q: How Much Does Attorney Representation Cost At The District Justice Level?
  A: Many attorneys will offer flat fees for the Magisterial District Court level, ranging from a few hundred dollars to about a thousand dollars, depending on the … More

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