Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania

Landlord asked me to leave, I have no lease, what are my rights?

I have lived in my apartment for 2 years with no lease. My rent is due on the first of every month. While I was away on business, my landlord was in my apartment and decided that it was too messy (dirty) for her standards and left me voice mail on a common mailbox at my work that I was to vacate my apartment by the 17th of March (the call was received by my co-workers on the 2/14, but I did not find out about it until today, 2/17). Ironically, the reason she was in the apartment that day was because I had a housekeeping team in to do a major cleaning and then begin a weekly service arrangement. My biggest problem is that I am working on a very important project at work that will take many 80-hour work weeks for the next month or two. Finding a new place to live and moving right now would be all but impossible. Can she really make me leave by the 3/17? What law prevails in the absence of a lease? I would really like 90 days so I can get past this deadline at work before dealing with this. I don't want to sour relations with the landlord (I have family living on the same block). I do want to know what my rights are so I can write her a letter stating what my intentions are (knowing, of course, that I am 100% within my rights).


Asked on 2/17/00, 5:33 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
D Patrick Zimmerman Law Offices of D Patrick Zimmerman

Re: Landlord asked me to leave, I have no lease, what are my rights?

If year to year lease, then she must give you 30 days written notice to vacate at end of term, if month to month then 15 days notice in writing. A lease under 3 years need only be oral. If you get the notice it must tell you to vacate at end of current term..ie if month to month starting on first of month then notice must be received at least 15 days from end of term ie end of month. If not then not to end of next month. If you don't move she can sue you and this will take a minimuim of 35 more days at least.

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Answered on 2/24/00, 8:36 am


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