Landlord Responsibility Statements

Pennsylvania Landlord Responsibility Statement

Effective Date: November 1, 2025
Jurisdiction: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Applies To: All landlords, property managers, agents, and listing entities using the Tentunit platform for residential student, young-professional and family housing in Pennsylvania.

1. Purpose

This Statement defines the operational, compliance, and ethical obligations that landlords must meet when listing properties via the Tentunit platform in Pennsylvania. Participation on the platform constitutes agreement to adhere to this Statement, the Tentunit Terms of Service, Payment Terms, Fair Housing Policy, and all applicable federal, state and local laws. This document does not constitute legal advice. Landlords should consult counsel for full statutory compliance.

2. Listing Accuracy, Transparency & Advertising Standards

Landlords must provide listings that are truthful, complete, and updated.

Required Disclosures

Each listing must clearly include:

  • Monthly rent, lease term or advance notice terms, earliest availability.
  • All required fees: application, move-in, administrative/amenity, parking, pet fees/deposits, utility re-billing or allocation.
  • Security deposit amount or fee-in-lieu, conditions, timeline and deduction structure.
  • Utility responsibility: which utilities tenant pays, which landlord pays, method of allocation/sub-metering.
  • Unit condition: photographs shall depict the actual unit being offered (not exclusively a model unless clearly disclosed).
  • Screening criteria: income, credit standard, guarantor/co-signer requirements, student-status rules.
  • Availability: units listed must be genuinely available; availability status must be updated promptly.

Prohibited Practices

  • Advertising units that are already leased or not available without prompt removal.
  • Mis-stating size, amenities, layout, condition, finishes, or inducements not actually available.
  • “Starting at” or teaser rates without full disclosure of eligibility, timing, and unit availability.
  • Omitting material terms or hidden fees that would mislead a reasonable renter.
  • Discriminatory language or indication of preference/limitation in advertising.

Statutory & Regulatory Anchors

  • Pennsylvania Security Deposit Law: 68 P.S. § 250.511a (limits deposit amounts).
  • Pennsylvania Landlord & Tenant Act of 1951.
  • Pennsylvania Advertising & Licensing Regulations (e.g., § 35.304 Pa. Code for licensed real‐estate advertising).

3. Fair Housing, Equal Access & Non-Discrimination

Landlords must comply with:

  • The federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.).
  • Pennsylvania statutes and applicable local laws regarding tenant protections, non-discrimination, and housing advertising.

Landlords must:

  • Apply neutral screening criteria to all applicants, regardless of protected class (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability) and any additional state/local protected classes.
  • Provide reasonable accommodations and modifications for disabled tenants.
  • Avoid any advertising, screening or leasing practices that convey preference, limitation or discrimination.
  • Maintain documentation of screening decisions and criteria.

4. Tenant Communication & Responsiveness

Landlords must maintain professional, timely communication to support transparency and reduce disputes.

Standards

  • Acknowledge every inquiry, application submission or maintenance request via Tentunit (or documented channel) within 24 hours, and provide a substantive response within 48 hours.
  • Keep applicants informed of application status and tenants of upcoming inspections, entries, or maintenance.
  • Update listings promptly when units are leased, unavailable, or terms change (rent, fees, availability, policy).
  • Maintain respectful and nondiscriminatory communication. Repeated irresponsible or abusive communication may lead to Tentunit listing suspension.

5. Lease Execution & Legal Compliance

All leases executed through Tentunit must be written or electronically documented, and conform to Pennsylvania law and best practice.

Mandatory Lease Elements

  • Landlord or agent name and address for service of process.
  • Clear rent amount, term, renewal/termination conditions, security deposit terms, move-in fees, utilities responsibility, and screening criteria.
  • Disclosures of lead-based paint for homes built before 1978 (federal requirement).
  • Terms covering tenant duties, landlord repair obligations, entry/inspection rights, and early termination conditions.
  • Lease must not include terms that waive tenant statutory rights or allow unlawful self-help eviction (lock-out, utility shut-off, etc.).

Notice & Termination

  • For fixed-term lease: tenancy ends at expiration; landlord may require notice to renew.
  • For month-to-month: many sources indicate 15 days’ written notice required by either party before end of rental period.

6. Habitability, Maintenance & Repairs

Landlords must maintain leased premises in a habitable and safe condition aligned with statutory duty of “safe, clean and fit for occupancy” (implicitly required in Pennsylvania). Key requirements:

  • Functioning heating, plumbing, sanitary facilities, safe electrical wiring and lighting.
  • Secure locks, operable windows/doors, safe structural condition of floors, walls, roof, stairs, railings.
  • Smoke detectors, carbon-monoxide alarms where required by local ordinance.
  • Prompt response to tenant repair requests that materially affect health or safety.
  • Maintain detailed logs of repair requests, work orders, completion and tenant communications.

7. Entry, Inspection & Tenant Privacy

Landlords must respect tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment and provide entry notices that are reasonable. Pennsylvania law does not prescribe a strict fixed statute for notice of entry, but “reasonable notice” is required and 24 hours is standard industry practice.

Landlords must:

  • Provide written or documented notice for non-emergency entry.
  • Conduct entry at reasonable times (commonly between 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.).
  • Offer a move-out inspection option to tenant where required or good practice.
  • Document all entry notices, tenant responses, and inspection reports.

8. Security Deposit Handling & Escrow Regulations

Pennsylvania imposes detailed rules for deposit amounts, handling and return.

Deposit Amount Limits

  • First year of tenancy: maximum two months’ rent as security deposit.
  • Second year and beyond (renewal): maximum one month’s rent. Landlords must refund any amount in excess of that after appropriate written request by tenant.

Deposit Placement & Interest

  • If deposit exceeds $100 and tenant remains in occupancy for more than two years, landlord must place deposit in approved escrow/interest-bearing account or post surety bond.
  • Tenant must be notified in writing of the depository institution, amount of deposit, terms, and rights to interest.

Return & Withholdings

  • Within 30 days after lease termination and tenant provides forwarding address, landlord must either return deposit in full or provide written itemized list of damages and withheld amount.
  • Deductions may only include: unpaid rent, damages beyond ordinary wear and tear, charges owed under lease. Normal wear and tear cannot be charged.
  • If landlord fails to comply with return or itemization, tenant may recover double the deposit plus interest, and landlord may forfeit right to claim damages.

9. Student Housing & Young-Professional Focused Standards

Given Tentunit’s focus, landlords must observe additional best practices tailored for student/young-professional rentals:

  • Disclose campus distance, transportation/parking rules, lease renewal/termination and sub-letting policies clearly in listing and lease.
  • Provide digital onboarding materials: move-in guide, property rules, utility set-up instructions, emergency contact.
  • Avoid predatory practices (excessive fees, misleading promises, leasing without clear tenant protections).
  • Provide service/support channels compatible with student schedule (mobile notifications, after-hours communication).
  • House-rules must not conflict with statutory rights (e.g., tenant withdrawal rights, security deposit protections).

10. Documentation, Audit, Compliance & Platform Enforcement

Landlords are required to maintain comprehensive records and operate in a manner consistent with institutional-level compliance.

Record Keeping

Maintain:

  • Listing data: submission date, photo archive, fee schedule, availability changes.
  • Screening logs: inquiries, criteria, approvals/denials, communication timestamps.
  • Lease file: executed version(s), amendments, renewal data, disclosures.
  • Maintenance logs: repair requests, vendor/work-order, completion documentation, tenant notifications.
  • Entry/inspection logs: notices, tenant responses, move-in/move-out checklists, photos.
  • Deposit records: escrow/deposit account details, interest paid, deduction itemization, return timeline.

Platform Enforcement

Tentunit reserves rights to:

  • Audit landlord files and listing practices without prior notice.
  • Suspend or remove listings for non-compliance with this Statement, Tentunit policies or law.
  • Freeze or withhold landlord payouts in cases of suspected violation.
  • Terminate landlord account permanently for material or repeated violations.
  • Report wrongdoing to appropriate regulators or enforcement agencies.
  • Seek recovery of enforcement costs, damages, and attorney’s fees caused by landlord non-compliance.

11. Indemnification

Landlord shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Tentunit, its officers, directors, affiliates, employees, agents and contractors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of or in connection with:

  • Landlord’s breach of this Statement or Tentunit policies.
  • Landlord’s violation of any federal, state or local law applicable to rental housing.
  • Landlord’s misrepresentation of listing, unit, condition, terms or fees.
  • Tenant claims or disputes arising from landlord act or omission.
  • Platform enforcement or regulatory action triggered by landlord misconduct.

12. Governing Law & Reference Statutes

Pennsylvania Statutory References & Guides

Federal Laws

  • Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.).
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (as applicable).
  • Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (for pre‐1978 units).