Pennsylvania Landlord Tenant Act Overview, Deposits, Notices, and the $100 Escrow Rule
Pennsylvania's landlord-tenant law is governed by the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, codified at 68 P.S. 250.101 et seq. The act caps security deposits, imposes escrow requirements for long-tenure tenants, and sets default notice periods.
The 1951 Landlord and Tenant Act
Pennsylvania's landlord-tenant statutes are older than most states' but still active. The core provisions:
- Deposit cap at 250.511a.
- Escrow requirement at 250.511b.
- Eviction procedure at 250.501 et seq.
- Termination notice at 250.501.
Deposit cap, 2 months then 1 month (250.511a)
68 P.S. 250.511a caps residential security deposits at:
- 2 months' rent during the first year of tenancy.
- 1 month's rent during the second year and after.
The landlord must refund any excess at the start of the second year or the tenant is entitled to recover it plus damages.
$100 escrow rule (250.511b)
For deposits over $100 held for more than two years, 68 P.S. 250.511b requires the landlord to place the deposit in an escrow account at a federally regulated bank. The tenant is entitled to the interest, minus 1% for the landlord's administration.
Failure to escrow can result in the tenant recovering the full deposit plus the interest.
Termination notice periods
68 P.S. 250.501 requires written notice to terminate a tenancy:
- 15 days for tenancies of less than one year.
- 30 days for tenancies of one year or more.
These are default periods that can be modified by the lease.
Where to get a Pennsylvania lease
LeaseKit's Pennsylvania residential lease template includes the two-then-one deposit rule, the $100 escrow flag, and the correct termination notice period. $29 one-time.
This post is informational. Pennsylvania landlord-tenant cases often turn on technical notice requirements. For contested cases, consult a Pennsylvania-licensed attorney.