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PENNSYLVANIA
EVICTIONS - 2
Can I stop an eviction by catching up on
my rent? If the eviction case was only for
nonpayment of rent and was brought before a
Magisterial District Justice, you may stop the
eviction any time before you are actually
evicted by paying the amount the district
justice ordered, including court costs. This
is called the right to pay and stay. Note that
the court costs go up if the landlord requests
an Order for Possession, so it is
best to pay as soon as possible.
Can my landlord just lock me out without
going to court? No. Many Pennsylvania courts have said your
landlord cannot evict you by self-help,
meaning such things as padlocking your door,
shutting off your utilities, using force to
evict you, or using any eviction method other
than going to court.
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Where can I get help to avoid eviction
because I owe rent? Your local county assistance office may
have emergency shelter assistance for people
who need help paying their rent or paying a
security deposit for a new place to live. Many
churches and community agencies also may be
able to help.
If you are having trouble finding a decent,
affordable place to live, consider applying
for subsidized housing with your local Housing
Authority.
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Do these eviction rules apply to all
tenants?
These rules do not always apply if a tenant
is being evicted because of drug-related
criminal activity in the household. In those
cases, the landlord is not required to give
the tenant a written notice before filing the
eviction case, and the case can be filed in
Common Pleas Court rather than with a
Magisterial District Justice.
Some of the eviction rules are different
for nonresidential leases. Different rules
also apply in other areas such as Philadelphia
County.
The law also provides greater rights to
tenants in public and subsidized housing and
to owners of mobile homes who rent space in
mobile home parks. See separate brochures on
those rights, or check with your local Legal
Services office.
Also contact the following agencies for
additional help:
PENNSYLVANIA LEGAL AID NETWORK, INC.
(800) 322-7572
Neighborhood
Legal Services Association (NLSA)
is a private, nonprofit corporation which
provides legal services for poor and
vulnerable individuals in southwestern
Pennsylvania
PaLawHelp.org
This public Information
was obtained from a pamphlet edited
by Neighborhood Legal Services Association and
produced by Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network,
Inc. along with comments and notes from
Rentlaw.com.
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