MAKE YOUR FREE Pennsylvania Eviction Notice
![Pennsylvania Eviction Notice document preview](https://www.rocketlawyer.com/binaries/content/gallery/responsive/thumbnails/us/drafts/sample-eviction-notice-pa-template.png)
What is a Pennsylvania Eviction Notice or Notice to Quit?
When to use a Pennsylvania Eviction Notice:
- Your tenant has failed to pay the rent.
- Your tenant has violated the lease or rental agreement.
- The lease or rental agreement has expired and the tenant has remained on the property (holdover).
Sample Pennsylvania Eviction Notice
The terms in your document will update based on the information you provide
10 DAY NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUITNOTICE TO QUIT
, Pennsylvania
TO TENANT(S) AND ALL OTHERS IN POSSESSION OF THE PREMISES LOCATED AT:
, , Pennsylvania
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to the lease or rental agreement dated under which you hold the possession of the herein described premises there is now due, unpaid and delinquent rent in the total sum of , representing rent due for the period from to .
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that within TEN (10) days after service of this notice, you are hereby required to pay the above-listed amount in full OR quit the subject premises, move out, and deliver up possession of the same to . Failure to pay the rent in full OR vacate the premises WITHIN TEN (10) days as required by Pennsylvania law will result in eviction proceedings being initiated against you in court. You must pay the above-listed amount in full OR quit the subject premises by 11:59 PM on .
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that you have violated the following term(s) in your lease and/or rental agreement dated : .
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that within FIFTEEN (15) THIRTY (30) days after service of this notice, you are hereby required to perform the aforesaid covenant(s) OR quit the subject premises, move out, and deliver up possession of the same to . Failure to perform aforesaid covenant(s) OR vacate the premises WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) THIRTY (30) days as required by Pennsylvania law will result in eviction proceedings being initiated against you in court. You must perform the aforesaid covenants OR quit the subject premises by 11:59 PM on .
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the lease and/or rental agreement under which you hold the possession of the herein described premises has expired as of .
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that within FIFTEEN (15) THIRTY (30) days after service of this notice, you are required to quit and deliver up possession of the premises to . Failure to do so will result in eviction proceedings being initiated against you in court. You must quit and deliver up possession of the premises by 11:59 PM on .
THIS IS INTENDED AS A TEN (10) DAY LEGAL NOTICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEMANDING RENT BE PAID IN FULL. THIS NOTICE IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 250.501 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT OF 1951.
THIS IS INTENDED AS A FIFTEEN (15) DAY LEGAL NOTICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF TERMINATING YOUR TENANCY. THIS NOTICE IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 250.501 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT OF 1951.
THIS IS INTENDED AS A THIRTY (30) DAY LEGAL NOTICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF TERMINATING YOUR TENANCY. THIS NOTICE IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 250.501 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT OF 1951.
Dated: |
By: | ______________________________ |
, |
Pennsylvania Eviction Notice Checklist
Make It Legal™
Find out next steps for your document
___Sign this document. This document needs to be signed by:
___Everyone gets a copy. Each tenant named in the document should receive an individual copy of the signed notice.
___Serve the document. Deliver the notice. The notice may be served personally on the tenant(s), or by leaving the notice on the property, or by posting the notice in plain view on the property. These measures are required in order to ensure that the tenant receives the notice.
Important Details
You may never forcibly evict a tenant without going through the formal tenant eviction process.
If the tenant(s) remain in possession of the property after the notice has expired, you can then proceed with a formal eviction case in local court. However, the eviction process is a large expense and you should try to work it out with the tenant(s) whenever possible.
If you end up having to file a formal eviction case, make sure you file your eviction case in the right court. Pennsylvania is broken up into different districts, and you must file in the correct district. You can usually figure out where to file by doing some research on your state's website.
Pennsylvania Eviction Notice FAQs
-
Am I legally allowed to evict tenants for unpaid rent in Pennsylvania?
Under normal circumstances, yes, and you may draft a Pennsylvania Eviction Notice (specifically referred to as a 10-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit) to kick off the process. That said, as a result of the pandemic, a few limitations have been established. Despite the fact that the federal ban on eviction has been struck down, the state of Pennsylvania is able to maintain its own standards for residential evictions. Keep up with the talk to a lawyer for further advice.
-
When should a property owner make an Eviction Notice in Pennsylvania?
If you intend to evict a tenant, you may opt to provide a Notice of Eviction first. Even if it isn't always legally mandated, this document can help you avoid court (as long as your tenant will comply.) Some of the most common circumstances in which you may want one are:
- The tenant is routinely late to pay their rent or payments have fallen behind schedule
- The tenant creates a nuisance or disturbs the quiet enjoyment of their neighbors
- The tenant is using your property illicitly
- The tenant has a dog or cat and your rental agreement forbids pets
- The tenant sublets your property against the rental terms
- The tenant has caused considerable damage
Outside of lease violations, tenants generally can be evicted by a property owner due to other reasons unrelated to their personal conduct, such as when the property owner plans to move back in. Please note that this list is not totally exhaustive and the legally permitted reasons for evicting a tenant may vary based on your specific city or municipality, among other determining factors. If you are having any doubts or questions with regard to Pennsylvania eviction laws, ask an attorney.
-
How is a Pennsylvania Notice to Vacate normally structured?
You can tap or click the button labeled "Make document" to take a closer look at the Pennsylvania Eviction Notice sample. Before getting started, you generally might want to prepare these critical details for a Notice to Vacate in Pennsylvania:
- The address and description of the property
- The contact information for the lessee
- How long the tenant has to fix the situation
- What lease provisions have not been upheld
- How many rent payments are overdue (if appropriate)
In the event that your tenant isn't at fault for the eviction, you are able to provide more details. With the Rocket Lawyer document tool, you are able to add more custom modifications, as necessary. It is critical to verify that all of the policies and terms that you mention are present in your rental agreement.
-
How will Pennsylvania eviction laws affect me as a property owner?
Eviction laws often evolve over time and the legal process and guidelines can be somewhat complex for a first-timer. In some cases, there are varying notice periods or other requirements depending on the reason for evicting the tenant and how long they have lived in the unit. Consequently, it's strongly recommended that every property owner contact an eviction lawyer before serving a Notice of Eviction.
-
How do I file with the courts?
In Pennsylvania, you file a complaint with the local Magisterial District court. Once you file, a court date will be scheduled. Court dates are usually within about two weeks of filing.
-
What might I traditionally need to pay for an attorney to help me evict a tenant in Pennsylvania?
If you wish to understand the total cost of eviction, you will need to consider the fees associated with filing court documents, lawyer fees, the value of unrecovered payments, storage and/or cleaning fees, and the money and time you will spend looking for new tenants. The good news is that you won't have to pay hundreds of dollars in legal fees to have a Notice of Eviction made. Unlike most other eviction template websites that you might find elsewhere, Rocket Lawyer offers Premium membership holders up to a 40% discount when hiring a lawyer, so an attorney can represent you if you proceed with a lawsuit.
-
How long does the Pennsylvania eviction process typically take?
The duration of the eviction process for Pennsylvania tenants usually will depend on the amount of notice required, as well as the total volume of lawsuits being held at the same time. Here is a basic overview of Pennsylvania notice periods:
- Non-payment of rent: 10-day notice
- Rental contract violations: 15-day notice for lease terms of one year or less; 30-day notice for leases of more than one year
- No fault of the tenant(s): No notice is required by law
After your pre-defined notice period is over, the actual eviction can take 1 to 2 months. It is important to note that in particular types of housing, for instance where rent payments are subsidized, the mandated notice period may be even longer.
-
Should I hire an attorney when evicting someone in Pennsylvania?
While you may opt to create a Notice of Eviction on your own, most landlords who bring tenants to court will hire a lawyer to represent them. Depending on whom you reach out to, some lawyers won't even agree to review your document if they were not the person who drafted it. A better approach to consider is to get help via Rocket Lawyer attorney services. By signing up for a Premium membership, you have the ability to request guidance from an Rocket Lawyer network attorney with real estate experience or ask other legal questions related to your PA Eviction Notice. We're here to support you.
-
What should I do after making a Notice of Eviction/Notice to Quit in Pennsylvania?
After completing your Pennsylvania Eviction Notice on Rocket Lawyer, you'll have the ability to access it in your account at any time and place. As a Rocket Lawyer member, you will be able to edit it, save it as a Word or PDF document, print it out, and/or make a copy of it when needed. You will need to sign and date it before it is served on the tenant(s). You can choose from several methods when serving the notice:
- Work with a professional process server
- Deliver it personally
It is important to remember that "self-help" or "DIY" evictions are not legal in Pennsylvania or any other state. You cannot remove belongings, turn off utilities, replace the locks, or otherwise attempt to intimidate the tenant to force them out. Acting lawfully before and throughout the eviction proceedings will put you in the best position to remove tenants successfully under a court order.