If the repair is yours to pay
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Repair-request & landlord/tenant forms (LawDepot)Templates for a notice to repair, security-deposit demand, and more.
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Default rule and exceptions
Pennsylvania landlords must, within 30 days of lease termination or surrender of the premises, give the tenant a written list of damages the landlord claims the tenant is liable for; a landlord who misses that deadline forfeits the right to withhold any of the escrowed deposit or to sue for damages (68 P.S. 250.512).
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Landlord | Provide a written list of claimed damages within 30 days of termination or surrender, paid with the balance of the escrowed deposit. |
| Tenant | Recovers the full escrowed deposit if the landlord misses the 30-day deadline, and may sue for double any wrongfully withheld amount. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 29, 2026.
Every landlord shall within thirty days of termination of a lease or upon surrender and acceptance of the leasehold premises, whichever first occurs, provide a tenant with a written list of any damages to the leasehold premises for which the landlord claims the tenant is liable.
(b) Any landlord who fails to provide a written list within thirty days as required in subsection (a), above, shall forfeit all rights to withhold any portion of sums held in escrow, including any unpaid interest thereon, or to bring suit against the tenant for damages to the leasehold premises.
City rules rest on state law. Read Pennsylvania's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for security deposit: damage vs wear in Statewide, PA?
Responsibility is shared. Provide a written list of claimed damages within 30 days of termination or surrender, paid with the balance of the escrowed deposit.
What is this based on for Statewide, PA?
This verdict is sourced to 68 P.S. §250.512(a) (30-day itemized damage list / escrow balance) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- 68 P.S. §250.512(a) (30-day itemized damage list / escrow balance)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-29
- Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, Section 512 (68 P.S. Section 250.512)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-29
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