Landlord's 10-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit due to Nonpayment of Rent in Pennsylvania

Governing Law
The process for providing a notice of termination for a residential lease in Pennsylvania is governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.501 et seq.). The statute sets out the requirements for a landlord to legally terminate a tenancy for non-payment of rent.

Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Before a landlord can file for eviction, the landlord must give the tenant a notice to pay rent or quit. This notice must be in writing and inform the tenant that they have ten days to pay the delinquent rent or vacate the property. The notice must specify the amount of rent due, the date on which it was due, and the date of the notice. The landlord must properly serve the notice on the tenant.

Methods of Delivering Eviction Notices in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, eviction notices can be delivered to tenants in the following manners:
  • Delivering the notice to the tenant in person
  • Leaving a copy of the notice at the primary building on the rental property
  • Posting a copy in a conspicuous place at the rental unit.
Essential Elements for Pennsylvania Eviction Based on Non-Payment of Rent
It is important to note that for a Pennsylvania eviction based on non-payment of rent, the following essential elements must be met:
  • Plaintiff is the legal owner of the property or has legal authorization from the owner of the property
  • The property was rented to the defendant under a legal rental agreement
  • The rental agreement required the defendant to pay a specific amount of rent per month and the defendant has failed to fulfill this obligation
  • Plaintiff properly served defendant with a 10-day notice to pay or quit
  • As of the date of the 10-day notice, at least the amount stated in the notice was due
  • Defendant failed to pay the amount stated in the notice within 10 days after being properly served with the notice
  • Defendant is still in possession of the property
Improper Notice Could Result in Civil Penalties and Criminal Charges
Landlords must understand and comply with the notice and eviction procedures outlined in the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, as failure to do so could result in civil penalties and even criminal charges.