Residential Landlord Tenant Rights

If you are a Tenant or landlord residing in a Philadelphia rental property you need to be aware of the documented requirements under the law for the tenant’s wellbeing with regards to health and safety standards, which are residential landlord-tenant rights in Philadelphia. Namely, the 68 P.S. Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code (Section PM- 102.6.4).

The residential property owner in addition to, providing new tenants with a copy of the “City of Philadelphia Partners for Good Housing” and a Certificate of Rental Suitability (a free certificate applied online or in person is valid for 60 days) issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections, no more than sixty (60) days prior to residence.

Residential Landlord Philadelphia duties

It is the duty of the Landlord of rental property to provide:

• A Restroom / Toilet for private use
• Handbasin in the same room, or in the vicinity, of the toilet
• Bathtub/shower for private use
• Window/approved ventilation system in each bath/shower room. The window must be functioning and open to the outdoors, while the ventilating system must be fully operational
• The bathroom floor must have a waterproof and cleanable surface

Real Estate Landlord Tenant Rights Philadelphia

• Kitchen/ Heating / Water & Sewage
• A kitchen sink, in good, working condition
• A gas or electric cooker, that is properly installed, work effectively, and maintained in good, working condition
• All Hot and cold, running water. Hot water must lie between 110 and 125 degrees and flow at a rate of, at least, one gallon per minute within all rooms
• Plumbing equipment must be connected to Philadelphia’s water and sewage systems, unless a private system has been installed
• A central heating system working to heat 68 degrees from Oct 1 through Apr 30 and during May and Sept when the outside temperature drops to less than 60 degrees

Electric/ Pests/ Repairs

• All rentals must have adequate natural light and proper ventilation
• Each room must have at least two electrical outlets
• Public halls and stairways sufficiently lit
• Emergency lighting installed in hallways and stairwells with multiple exits.
• In multi-family dwellings, the landlord is responsible for eradicating pests.
• All plumbing and heating equipment installed and void of leaks and blockages.
• An electric light in each bathroom/restroom

If you are a landlord and you are unsure of your responsibilities, or a tenant who needs to know if their landlord is responsible for any issues relating to the property, call real estate attorneys Philadelphia today, to give you peace of mind.