If you’re a landlord or tenant in Pennsylvania, this article is for you!
Renting in Pennsylvania — otherwise known as the Keystone State — comes with a unique set of rules designed to protect both tenants and landlords.
If you’re a tenant, you might sometimes wonder: “Can my landlord really do that?”
On the flip side, if you’re a landlord, it’s crucial to know where the legal lines are drawn.
Let’s break down, in plain English, what landlords absolutely cannot do in the Keystone State.
1. No Discrimination—Period
Landlords in Pennsylvania are strictly prohibited from discriminating against tenants or applicants based on
- race
- color
- religion
- national origin
- sex
- disability
- familial status
- pregnancy
- ancestry
- or the use of a guide animal
These protections come from both the federal Fair Housing Act and the Pennsylvania Human Relations
2. No Illegal Evictions or “Self-Help” Tactics
Landlords can’t change a tenant’s locks, shut off utilities, or toss belongings to force you out—even if the tenant is behind on rent.
To evict a tenant, landlords must follow the formal legal process, which includes proper notice and a court order.
3. No Entering Without Proper Notice
Except in the event of emergencies, landlords must provide reasonable notice — typically 24 hours — before entering a tenant’s unit for repairs, inspections, or showings.
4. No Retaliation for Exercising Your Right
If a tenant reports a safety violation, joins a tenants’ union, or otherwise exercise his or her legal rights, a landlord in Pennsylvania cannot retaliate. That means they can’t hike rent, cut services, or threaten eviction — retaliation is strictly forbidden by law.
5. No Harassment or Excessive Communication
Landlords can’t harass tenants through threats, intimidation, or excessive calls and messages.
6. No Refusal to Make Necessary Repairs
Landlords must keep their rental property safe and habitable. That means working heat, hot water, electricity, plumbing, and pest control. If something essential breaks, the landlord has to fix it within a reasonable time — especially if it’s an urgent issue like no heat in winter.
7. No Excessive or Unlawful Fees
Late fees must be reasonable and clearly spelled out in the lease. Landlords can’t tack on new fees that aren’t already in the rental agreement. In Pennsylvania, security deposits are also capped: during the first year, the deposit can’t exceed two months’ rent, and after that, it drops to one month’s rent.
8. No Withholding Security Deposits Without Cause
When a tenant moves out, the landlord must return your security deposit (minus any legitimate deductions for damages) within 30 days. Keeping a tenant’s deposit without explanation or for normal wear and tear is not allowed.
9. No Ignoring Lease Agreements or Adding Illegal Clauses
Lease agreements must follow state law. Landlords can’t sneak in illegal clauses, like waiving your right to a habitable home or requiring you to pay for all repairs. If a lease term violates Pennsylvania law, it’s not enforceable.
10. No Unfair Occupancy Restrictions
Landlords can set reasonable occupancy standards, but they can’t unreasonably limit who can live with you or ban guests altogether. The law generally allows two people per bedroom, but landlords must consider the size of the unit and can’t discriminate based on familial status.
The Bottom Line: What a Landlord Can NOT Do in Pennsylvania
There you have it: the 10 things that landlords cannot do in the Keystone State.
Whether you’re a tenant or a landlord, understanding these boundaries helps keep rental relationships fair and stress-free.
If you ever find yourself in a gray area, don’t hesitate to consult Pennsylvania’s Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 or reach out to a local legal aid organization.