Landlord-Tenant Disputes Attorney in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Disputes between landlords and tenants can be emotional and stressful for everyone involved. Whether you are a landlord or tenant, consider contacting an experienced attorney to help you resolve your dispute in the most efficient and amicable manner possible.  

As a real estate attorney at Marc V. Taiani, Esquire and Allegheny Attorneys at Law, P.C., I help landlords and tenants understand their rights and determine the legal remedies that may be available to them. With an office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I serve clients throughout the state, including Oakmont Borough, Ross Township, Aspinwall, O’Hara Township, Shaler Township, Penn Hills, Indiana Township, and Fox Chapel.  

Pennsylvania Landlord/Tenant Law  

According to the Insurance Information Institute, nearly 70% of all occupied housing units are occupied by the owner. As a landlord or tenant in Pennsylvania, it is crucial to understand the state’s laws pertaining to real estate. Some of Pennsylvania’s landlord-tenant laws to be aware of include: 

1. Landlords must disclose the name and address of the banking institution where they keep the tenant’s security deposit;  

2. Landlords cannot charge more than two months’ rent for the first year and one month’s rent for subsequent years for a security deposit; 

3. Landlords must return the security deposit within 30 days after the tenant moves out;  

4. Tenants have 10 days to pay overdue rent or move out before a landlord begins the eviction process; and 

5. Tenants have a right to withhold rent when a landlord fails to perform necessary repairs. 

There are many other laws that may affect landlords and tenants in Pennsylvania. Consider contacting a landlord-tenant disputes attorney in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to learn more about your rights and obligations as a landlord or tenant and understand ways to resolve disputes.  

Common Disputes Between Landlords and Tenants 

Some of the most common causes of disputes between landlords and tenants include: 

• Non-payment of rent 

• Rent control 

• Non-compliance with the terms of the lease or rental agreement 

• Failure to make necessary repairs 

• Failure to maintain the property in a habitable condition 

• Security deposit disputes 

• Property damage 

• Failure to make required disclosures 

• Withholding rent 

• Landlord’s access to the property 

These are the most common landlord-tenant disputes. If you need assistance navigating a dispute with your landlord or tenant, I can help. Contact my law firm for trusted legal guidance no matter what your situation is.  

Termination and Eviction Rules  

In Pennsylvania, landlords must give tenants who failed to pay rent an unconditional quit notice to move out within 10 days before the landlord can initiate the eviction process. However, if the eviction is for any reason other than the tenant’s failure to pay rent, Pennsylvania law requires a 15-day notice for leases for one year or less. If the lease is for more than one year, Pennsylvania’s eviction procedures require a 30-day eviction notice. 

Dispute Remedies  

Depending on whether you are a landlord or tenant, possible dispute remedies may include: 

• Damages (payment for any financial losses incurred by the landlord or tenant due to the other party’s breach) 

• Compensation for any costs incurred by the landlord or tenant as a result of the other’s breach 

• Termination of tenancy to make the tenant move out early 

• Rent abatement to reduce rent when the tenant has been deprived of a benefit that was reasonably expected or guaranteed by the law 

• Recovery of rent due to the tenant’s non-payment 

• Recovery of property if the tenant fails to move out when he/she is supposed to 

Regardless of the type or cause of the dispute, you may need to consider contacting a landlord-tenant disputes attorney for legal guidance. As a real estate law attorney, I can assist you in protecting your legal rights and best interests.