Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Pennsylvania

When Is A Lease Illegal?

We are renting a 1400sq ft loft house in a gated community in the Poconos The property manager is a locate real estate This real estate refurbished this house about 2 years ago They displayed their sign out front as the work was completed We moved here 6/1/05 never realizing the heat on the first floor does not work The house has electric heat Thermostats in all 3 bedrooms are ok The livingroom dinningroom and kitchen are all hooked up to one very old thermostat I shut off the power and took apart things to find a bunch of capped wires,thus no heat works in the 3 rooms We have put into this house so far an oven, icebox, wood burning stove Then in July my elderly father (leasee) called to ask if they could come over to look at an electrical problem-The curict breaker did not pop off but we had no power in 3 areas The real estate agent called him back and yelled at him after the local power co. asked them then they sent someone.

I have applied for the county weatherazation program-I needed papers signed saying they would not raise our rent for 18 months due to the work done by the program- ''Lisa'' the receptionist said she business owner was out of the country. We are to fix any broken pipes according to our lease & now Jan is when


Asked on 11/20/05, 10:23 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Johns Mark Johns, Esquire

Re: When Is A Lease Illegal?

Beyond the face of the lease a landlord warrants the habitability and the quiet enjoyment of the property. Electricity and electrical heat to 1/3 of the home might make the property "uninhabitable" under Pennsylvania law. You should speak with an attorney to discuss your case more fully. I offer free consultations.

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Answered on 11/20/05, 11:56 am


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