Eviction Law

Eviction – the word alone is unpleasant. No one wants to face down the possibility of eviction, yet many people find themselves in that situation. Landlords have rights, but they also have responsibilities. As tenants, you have certain rights that protect you against unreasonable or unscrupulous landlords. Philadelphian landlords are notorious for wanting to make a quick buck in any way they can. The law should protect you, but it does not always meet the mark.

At Freundlich & Littman, LLC, we understand the tenuous relationship between landlords and tenants in the city of Philadelphia. We represent tenants. As your experienced eviction law lawyers, we look at your case with special care. Any failure to follow legal procedure could be a grounds to reverse the eviction notice.

Notice

Notice is an important aspect of eviction law in Philadelphia. In essence, to put someone “on notice” is to make them aware of the legal action taken against them. To serve someone notice, a landlord must provide the notice in a reasonable place. The law calls this notice a “Notice to Quit.”

A Notice to Quit is a legal document. When a landlord wishes to seek an eviction, they must notify the tenant in writing. This means that a verbal, “get out by next Friday”, is not enough. The landlord must also notify the tenant of the date of eviction.

A Notice to Quit must contain several key terms in order for the document to be sound. The document must contain:

• Name(s) of the legal tenants.
• Name of the landlord or leasing company.
• Address of the rented property.
• The reason for the eviction.

Reasons For Eviction

Landlords have several legal grounds for eviction. Despite these legal reasons, landlords attempt to evict for both legal and non-legal grounds. Worse still, landlords will hide a discriminatory reason behind a legitimate legal ground. These situations may be difficult to prove.

Legal reasons for an eviction include:

• Lease has ended.
• The tenant has violated the conditions of the lease or rental agreement. This includes a prohibited pet in the home, any illegal drug use, an unauthorized person in the home, or excessive damage to the property.
• The tenant has failed to pay the rent according to the terms of the agreement.