| Many Pittsburgh landlords are frustrated by the current | | | | The following form can be used if the landlord wishes |
| state of landlord-tenant law, as many rights under | | | | to bypass eviction notice requirements and bring the |
| current law are ceded to the tenant. Landlord | | | | eviction to magistrate court: |
| frustration is especially evident in the city proper; | | | | NOTICE TO LEAVE THE LEASED PROPERTY |
| Pittsburgh neighborhoods like Oakland and Bloomfield | | | | (NOTICE TO QUIT) |
| are filled with college students who can be noisy, | | | | Tenant agrees to give up certain legal rights as |
| negligent of property, or late with rent. However, a | | | | provided by the LANDLORD and TENANT ACT OF |
| landlord has certain rights to his or her rental properties, | | | | 1951. No notice will be required to be given by Landlord |
| and can require of tenants certain actions and | | | | and Tenant to leave and give up the leased property. |
| behaviors that are perfectly legal. The following article | | | | Tenant will be asked to leave the leased property |
| will exploresome landlord rights in the tenant relations | | | | without notice under any of the following conditions. |
| and property management arenas. | | | | |
| Rights of landlords renting Pittsburgh, PA properties | | | | 1. Tenant does not leave the property at the end of |
| One of the most important rights a landlord has is the | | | | the lease term. |
| right to evict tenants. There are three conditions under | | | | 2. Tenant breaks any of the terms and conditions of |
| which the landlord is legally able to evict tenants from | | | | the lease. |
| a rental property: | | | | 3. Tenant fails, upon demand, to make all rent and |
| | | | other payments when due. |
| 1. The tenant has not paid rent owed in full. | | | | __________________ Tenant's Initials |
| 2. The tenant's lease term is up, and the landlord | | | | Other Pittsburgh, PA landlord rights |
| wishes to put the property up for rent or sale. | | | | The landlord has the right to charge the tenant late |
| 3. The tenant violated a section of the rental | | | | fees for rent past due. It is recommended that the |
| agreement (or lease). | | | | landlord disclose the past-due penalty sum in the lease |
| Though there are fewer concrete rules outlining how | | | | before the tenant signs it. The landlord also has the |
| an eviction notice should be delivered, it helps the | | | | right to request a security deposit of an amount up to |
| landlord's case immensely if he or she follows | | | | and including two months' rent. The landlord is |
| common sense. | | | | prohibited by Pennsylvania state law from charging |
| First, the landlord should not deliver an eviction notice | | | | higher amounts; however, it is also the landlord's legal |
| by mail. Just as a citizen can ignore a jury duty | | | | right to charge a once-yearly security deposit, so long |
| summons by saying he or she never received it, a | | | | as each deposit owed after the first year of rental |
| tenant facing imminent eviction can simply deny that he | | | | does not exceed one month's rent. |
| or she ever received an eviction notice. The landlord | | | | It is advisable that a landlord return the security deposit |
| has every right to state in the lease the maximum | | | | to a tenant or tenants once the rental lease is up. |
| length of time permissible between eviction notice and | | | | However, a landlord can refuse to refund a tenant part |
| removal of tenants. Many landlords opt not to do this, | | | | or all of the security deposit if the tenant has caused |
| however - in which case, they are advised to refer to | | | | damages to the unit that are not the result of natural |
| the Landlord-Tenant Law of 1951. It is the only rubric | | | | aging or wear. To avoid legal disputes, the landlord |
| available for tenant eviction in Pennsylvania. | | | | should meticulously document the condition of the |
| The landlord can lawfully evict the tenant with 30 days | | | | apartment before the tenant moves in and after he or |
| notice for leases less than 365 days (1 year) in length. | | | | she leaves, including photographing unit interiors and |
| 90 days notice is required for leases one year or | | | | exteriors. Landlords are required by law to provide a |
| longer. Some landlords do not use written leases with | | | | list enumerating tenant-caused damages 30 days or |
| tenants. Legally, this is an inadvisable move; the landlord | | | | less after tenants vacate rental units. |
| does not want to inadvertently cede rights to the | | | | Many legal hassles with tenants can be avoided by |
| tenant. However, if the landlord does not use written | | | | carefully pre-screening all would-be renters. Though a |
| leases, 30 days' notice for eviction is standard. | | | | landlord is prohibited by law from turning away tenants |
| If tenant eviction proceedings are pending, the landlord's | | | | on the basis of gender, race, creed, or other personal |
| best bet is to keep written documentation of all | | | | characteristics, landlords can turn down tenant |
| communications, payments, and incidents with tenants. | | | | applications if tenants have poor credit, smoke, or own |
| The landlord must be prepared to demonstrate when | | | | pets - all of these tenant characteristics can interfere |
| a tenant stopped paying rent, how much rent the | | | | with the rental process. A landlord has the legal right to |
| tenant owes, and/or how the tenant violated terms of | | | | run a credit and background check on the tenant. To |
| the lease. If the tenant brings suit against the landlord | | | | avoid issues with late or non-existent rentpayments, |
| for eviction-related grievances, this documentation is | | | | the landlord should contact a potential tenant's current |
| invaluable. In order to keep the law on his or her side, a | | | | employer(s), and request pay stubs from any |
| landlord must not take rash actions against a tenant | | | | prospective tenants as proof of ability to pay rent. |
| facing eviction. The landlord should not use police to | | | | Finally, because people are often prone to repeating |
| forcibly evict the tenant before the eviction notice term | | | | the same behavior time and again, references from |
| is up, nor should he or she resort to "dirty fighting | | | | former landlords are crucial to avoid potential tenant |
| tactics," such as locking the tenant out or cutting off all | | | | problems. |
| utilities services to the rental home or unit. | | | | |