A Pennsylvania lease agreement allows landlords to legally rent property to tenants paying rent. It is advised for a landlord to verify their tenant’s income and employment status prior to authorizing a lease. This will give proof that they can afford the rent. When signing the lease, the tenant will be obligated to provide payment for the security deposit, if any, and the first month’s rent.
Rental Application – Use to ensure the tenant has the income to pay rent.
Table of Contents
- Agreement Types (7)
- Disclosures
- Access
- Security Deposits
- Guides
- (Video) What are the Pennsylvania Rental Laws?
Agreement Types (7)
Commercial Lease Agreement – To be used for all business-related tenancies.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word (.docx), OpenDocument
Lease with Option to Purchase Agreement – Standard residential contract that allows for the lessor and lessee to create a pre-determined agreement for the purchase and sale of the rental property.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word (.docx), OpenDocument
Month-to-Month Lease Agreement (§ 250.501) – Allows for the landlord or tenant to cancel within fifteen (15) days. If the tenancy has been ongoing for more than one (1) year then the parties must give each other at least thirty (30) days’ notice.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word (.docx), OpenDocument
Room Rental (Roommate) Agreement – For the members of a home where each occupant is given a bedroom and the contract is for the shared common areas and expenses.
Download: Adobe PDF
Standard Residential Lease Agreement – Usually written as a one (1) year arrangement but may for any specified time-frame with a start and end date.
Download: Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word (.docx), OpenDocument
Sublease Agreement – For a tenant seeking to sublet space they have under lease from the landlord/agent.
Download: Adobe PDF
Termination Lease Letter – Used to cancel a month-to-month rental arrangement.
Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word (.docx), OpenDocument
Disclosures
Lead-Based Paint Disclosure – If any housing structure was built prior to 1978 then the tenant must be informed. The landlord must complete with both the landlord and the tenant signing the disclosure.
Access
There is no State statute that requires the landlord to give any type of notice to the tenant before entering the property for any non-emergency type of event.
Security Deposits
Maximum (§ 250.511.1(a)) – Landlord may ask for up to two (2) months’ rent.
Returning (§ 250.512) – Within thirty (30) days of the lease termination date or when possession has been delivered back to the landlord, whichever comes first, shall give back all funds associated with the deposit along with an itemized list if there are any deductions.
Guides
- Tenant Landlord Rights & Responsibilities
- Self-Help Handbook for Tenants
- Title 68 – Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951