Pennsylvania Notice to Terminate Tenancy (No Cause)

NOTICE TO TERMINATE TENANCY (NO CAUSE) — COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Pursuant to 68 P.S. § 250.501(b) — The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951

1. PARTIES AND PREMISES

2. NOTICE OF TERMINATION

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Landlord elects to terminate your tenancy and will not renew or extend the lease for the above-referenced premises. The Landlord seeks possession at the end of the notice period set forth below.

Reason for Notice (check one):

☐ Expiration of fixed-term lease. The lease term expires on [__/__/____]. The Landlord declines to renew. Possession is required on the date set forth in Section 3.

☐ Termination of month-to-month / indeterminate tenancy. Your tenancy is hereby terminated effective at the end of the period set forth in Section 3.

3. TERMINATION DATE / DEMAND TO QUIT

YOU ARE REQUIRED to remove from and deliver up possession of the premises on or before:

☐ FIFTEEN (15) DAYS after service of this Notice — Lease term is one (1) year or less or indeterminate. Vacate by 11:59 p.m. on [__/__/____]. 68 P.S. § 250.501(b).

☐ THIRTY (30) DAYS after service of this Notice — Lease term is more than one (1) year. Vacate by 11:59 p.m. on [__/__/____]. 68 P.S. § 250.501(b).

You must remove yourself, your household, all occupants, and all personal property by the date above and surrender keys to the Landlord at [ADDRESS / KEY DROP].

4. RENT, MOVE-OUT, AND SECURITY DEPOSIT

5. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO VACATE

If you fail to vacate by the deadline above, the Landlord intends, without further notice, to:

• File a Landlord/Tenant Complaint at the Magisterial District Court (or, in Philadelphia, the Municipal Court Landlord-Tenant Division) under Pa. R.C.P.M.D.J. 503;
• Seek a judgment for possession, double rent for the period of holdover under 68 P.S. § 250.501(c) where applicable, and court costs;
• Pursue all other remedies at law or equity, including any attorneys' fees provided by the lease.

SELF-HELP IS PROHIBITED. The Landlord may not change locks, remove your belongings, shut off utilities, or otherwise force you out without an order of court. Such conduct may give rise to liability under 68 P.S. § 250.501 and Pennsylvania case law.

6. PHILADELPHIA TENANTS — GOOD CAUSE EVICTION & DIVERSION

If the premises are located in Philadelphia and the tenancy is covered by Phila. Code § 9-804 ("Good Cause Eviction"), the Landlord may NOT terminate or decline to renew without "good cause." A no-cause notice may be invalid as to a covered Philadelphia tenant.

Permitted "Good Cause" grounds include (non-exhaustive):

• Nonpayment of rent;
• Material breach of lease after notice and opportunity to cure;
• Owner or family member move-in;
• Substantial renovation requiring vacancy;
• Removal of unit from rental market;
• Refusal to renew on materially identical terms;
• Criminal activity on the premises;
• Refusal of reasonable access for lawful purposes.

The Landlord must also (a) provide a Notice of Diversion Rights, (b) enroll in the Eviction Diversion Program, and (c) participate in good faith for at least thirty (30) days before filing in court. Phila. Code § 9-811. Information: eviction-diversion.phila.gov · (215) 686-7686.

7. TENANT RIGHTS — GENERAL

You may have legal defenses, including:

• Defective notice (incorrect period, premature service, improper waiver);
• Retaliation in response to protected activity;
• Discrimination prohibited by the PA Human Relations Act, Federal Fair Housing Act, or local ordinance;
• Local just-cause / good-cause ordinance protections (Philadelphia § 9-804; verify other municipalities);
• Implied warranty of habitability defenses to any related rent claim (Pugh v. Holmes, 486 Pa. 272 (1979));
• Setoff for unreturned security deposit under 68 P.S. § 250.512.

Free or reduced-cost legal help:

• PA Legal Aid Network: palawhelp.org · (800) 322-7572
• Community Legal Services of Philadelphia: clsphila.org · (215) 981-3700
• Neighborhood Legal Services (Western PA): nlsa.us · (412) 255-6700
• MidPenn Legal Services (Central PA): midpenn.org · (800) 326-9177

8. SIGNATURE OF LANDLORD/AGENT

I certify under penalty of unsworn falsification to authorities (18 Pa.C.S. § 4904) that I am the Landlord or duly authorized agent and that I am serving this Notice pursuant to 68 P.S. § 250.501(b).

9. PROOF OF SERVICE

On [__/__/____] at approximately [__:__ ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.], I served this Notice on the Tenant(s) by the following method (check all that apply):

☐ Personal delivery to the Tenant at the premises;
☐ Personal delivery to an adult member of the Tenant's household (name: [____]);
☐ Posting in a conspicuous place on the premises;
☐ First-class U.S. mail to the premises;
☐ Certified U.S. mail, return receipt requested, tracking no. [____];
☐ Other (describe): [____].

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• 68 P.S. § 250.501 — Notice on expiration of term.
• 68 P.S. § 250.512 — Security deposit return.
• Pugh v. Holmes, 486 Pa. 272, 405 A.2d 897 (1979).
• Pa. R.C.P.M.D.J. 503 — Form of Complaint.
• Phila. Code § 9-804 — Good Cause Eviction.
• Phila. Code § 9-811 — Eviction Diversion Program.
• AOPC Form MDJS 310A — Landlord/Tenant Complaint.