Click on other tabs above for information about legal aid providers and courts in your area. Below is legal information on this sub-topic. You can localize this information by clicking on the"Choose Another Location" link in the right column and selecting the area where you live.
Pennsylvania Affordable Apartment Locator
(Separate Website)
The Apartment Locator was developed by Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency as a tool to link consumers to affordable housing options throughout the Commonwealth. It is intended to be an aid for consumers who are searching for affordable apartments and for property managers and developers who wish to market their affordable vacant units.
By: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Request to Landlord for Repairs
This form prepares a letter for Pennsylvania tenants to send to your landlord asking that repairs be done to your rental unit. This letter should be used as the initial request to your landlord.
IMPORTANT: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form. To use this form, you must have Internet Explorer and Microsoft Word installed on the computer you are using.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Petition to Waive Court Costs
Click the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive where you can prepare a Petition to Waive Court Fees which can be used to ask the Pennsylvania Court for permission to file legal papers for free. This form can be used in most types of court cases in Pennsylvania. Approval to waive fees is not automatic. You will need to ask the Court to approve your Petition. Instructions will be included. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form; you will need to answer questions while connected to the Internet.
IMPORTANT: To use this form, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and Microsoft Word to print your documents.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Your Right as a Tenant to a Decent Home
Information on tenants' rights relating to housing
By: Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Other Formats:
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Warranty of Habitability
Informational brochure on warranty of habitability and a landlord's responsibility to provide a safe home.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Landlord's Duty To Make Repairs
(Separate Website)
Information on a landlord's duty to repair rental property
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Deduct & Repair - Tenant's Right to a Safe and Decent Home
Informational guide for tenant which explains their right to a safe and decent home
By: MidPenn Legal Services
What Should I Do When I Need Repairs In My Apartment Or House?
(Separate Website)
Options for tenants when their home needs repairs. Section of LandLord Tenant Handbook from North Penn Legal Services.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Implied Warranty of Habitability
(Separate Website)
Information on your right to a residence fit for human habitation.
By: Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc.
Habitability Law in Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Information on the implied warranty of habitability that is present in all Pennsylvania leases.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Self-help Handbook for Tenants
This handbook provides useful information about renting an apartment and some of the basics of landlord-tenant law. For those looking for rental housing, the handbook has practical suggestions about what to look for while inspecting the rental unit and what questions to ask the landlord. For those who are already renting, the handbook discusses common problems such as nonpayment of rent or complaints about repairs.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Housing Code Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet outlining various house code issues and tenants rights
By: MidPenn Legal Services
The Right of Quiet Enjoyment
(Separate Website)
Information on a tenant's right to quiet enjoyment
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
Information for tenants and your right to quiet enjoyment of your premises.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
How to Keep Someone off Your Property Information about kepping people off your property and the law relating to defiant trespass
By: Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Dealing with situations while renting
(Separate Website)
Information for tenants regarding situationa that occur while renting an apartment or house. Section of Landlord Tenant Handbook by North Penn Legal Services.
By: North Penn Legal Services
A Tenant's Guide to Renting This handbook is designed to address some common problems that you may face as a tenant. It addresses a number issues including Searching for a rental unit; Reviewing and signing your lease; Moving into your new rental unit; Living in your rental unit and Moving out.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Tenants' Rights - Going to Court
This brochure provides general information for tenants regarding district justice court hearings.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
How to Sue At the Office of the Magisterial District Judge
How to file suit on small claims in your local Office of the Magisterial District Judge.
By: MidPenn Legal Services
North Penn Legal Services Landlord - Tenant Video Workshop: The District Justice Hearing
This video workshop from North Penn Legal Services features a typical hearing before a magisterial distirct Judge in a landord - tenant case, followed by a panel discussion featuring several judges describing some best practices for you to use at your hearing, as well as some things to avoid. The process in the video is typical of any civil case brought before a magisterial district judge in Pennsylvania.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Magisterial District Courts
Information about the procedures in Magisterial District Justice Court
By: Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Other Formats:
PDF File
Magisterial District Judge Court - Filing Suit
This informational packet provides information on how to file a lawsuit in Magiserial District Judge Court.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Landlord Tenant Handbook
(Separate Website)
Detailed information about renting a residence from a landlord from North Penn Legal Services.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Home Improvements
Informational brochure providing information when deciding whether to make home repairs.
By: MidPenn Legal Services
Landlord Tenant Packet [PDF] This is a comprehensive (31 pages) self-help packet designed to assist Central Pennsylvania tenants deal with various landlord/tenant problems. PDF Format
By: MidPenn Legal Services
Information from Bar Associations and Other Legal Organizations
Residential Tenant Rights
(Separate Website)
Information on rights of tenants from the Erie County Bar Association.
By: Erie County Bar Association
Renting a Home
(Separate Website)
Consumer information pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
By: Pennsylvania Bar Association
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Small Claims Court
(Separate Website)
Information on the operation of the Magisterial District Court in Pennsylvania.
By: Erie County Bar Association
Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
(Separate Website)
Information on lead-based paint hazards.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Is Your Manufactured Home Up to Standards?
(Separate Website)
Information for consumers and steps you can take if you are having problems with your manufactured home.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Report Bad Landlord in Federal Housing
(Separate Website)
Information on how to report bad landlords with federal housing.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Deceptive Home Improvement Contractors Complaints
(Separate Website)
Information for home owners with HUD insured loans on avoiding deceptive home improvement contractors.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
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Information, Not Legal Advice. We are providing this information as a public service. We try to make it accurate as of the date noted in the materials. Sometimes the laws change. We cannot promise that this information is always up-to-date and correct.
We do not intend this information to legal advice. By providing this information, we are not acting as your lawyer. If you need legal advice, you should contact a lawyer through your local legal aid organization. Always talk to a competent lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.
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