Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania

Fraud or misrepresentation by landlord

Current landlord bought distressed shopping center with promises to local government as well as tenants to fix, repair and upgrade same. Eight years have elapsed with little or no improvements resulting in local government enacting ordinances for building inspections to force landlord to improve or sell property. Latest inspection has resulted in condemnation of one building, more to follow. Property 70 percent vacant, 40 years old, purchased for 4.2 million, current value of redevelopment appraisal 10 million with idea of governmental condemnation. Latest action by landlord is failure to renew leases and evictions with only visible purpose to increase vacancy rate, purpose unknown. Can a case against a landlord (slumlord) succeed on the grounds of fraud or misrepresentation and is there any case law to support that theory in the Eastern Federal, 3rd District, Appelate or PA Supreme Court? I am one of the tenants that received a lease termination after three years of working to build a business that is starting to flourish. All help and direction appreciated.


Asked on 7/25/00, 12:27 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Murray Eckell Eckell,Sparks,Levy, Auerbach,Monte,Rainer,&Sloane

Re: Fraud or misrepresentation by landlord

The answer to your question is yes. However, proving fraud is difficult. It must be proven with precision and with particularity. You must show specific misrepresentations by the landlord with the intent to deceive. The only way to approach this problem would be to get as many tenants together as possible and compare notes. You would have to be committed to the long haul and the investigation and trial would be costly

Read more
Answered on 9/13/00, 9:13 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Real Estate and Real Property questions and answers in Pennsylvania