Rent Increases in Philadelphia: What Are My Rights?
This is not legal advice. We explain what the law says. We cannot tell you what to do in your situation. For that, talk to a lawyer. Find free legal and rent help in Philadelphia.
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Pennsylvania has no rent control, so no state law limits how much your rent can go up. Philadelphia adds notice rules for rent increases and a good cause rule (a reason the law accepts) for shorter leases. It also bans raising your rent to punish you. The Pennsylvania guide has the full state rules.
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Philadelphia law sets notice periods for rent increases. Your landlord must give at least 60 days notice if your lease term is 1 year or more. They must give at least 30 days notice if your lease term is under 1 year. The notice must state the increase amount, the effective date, and your new payment. It must be in writing, by hand or first-class mail with proof of mailing.
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If your lease is 1 year or more and you got a proper increase notice, you must tell your landlord if you will not renew. Give written notice within 30 days after the increase notice, by hand or first-class mail. This notice rule does not cover HUD (federal housing) properties.
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In Philadelphia, a landlord needs good cause (a reason the law accepts) to end or not renew a lease under one year. One good cause is refusing a proposed rent increase. It counts only if the rent increase notice offered you the option to accept. Accept in writing by hand delivery or first class mail with proof of mailing, at least 15 days before your lease ends. Otherwise you are treated as refusing. Your landlord must also plan to charge the next tenant the same increase.
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In Philadelphia, a landlord needs good cause (a reason the law accepts) to end or not renew a lease of less than one year. Your landlord must tell you the good cause reason in writing. They must use the same delivery method and timing as a rent increase notice. If they do not give this notice, your lease renews month to month, unless you choose otherwise.
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In Philadelphia, a City department or agency may issue a notice of violation because your home breaks the city code. If so, your landlord cannot change any term of your lease until the violation is fixed. This includes raising your rent. It protects renters living in the home when the notice is issued.
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Pennsylvania has no general state law against retaliation (punishing you for using a legal right). Philadelphia's ordinance bans it. Your landlord cannot raise your rent or change your lease to punish you for a code complaint or for joining a tenant group. This also covers using any other legal right.
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To file with the Fair Housing Commission, you must live in Philadelphia and still live in the rental unit. If your landlord already filed an eviction case against you in Municipal Court first, the commission cannot accept your complaint.
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If Philadelphia's Fair Housing Commission accepts your complaint, you will get a hearing notice with the date and time. Hearings currently take place online. At the hearing, the commissioners listen to you and your landlord. Both sides can present evidence, such as letters and receipts, and witnesses. Then the commissioners decide if an unfair rental practice happened. They issue an order based on the evidence from the hearing.
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