Landlord-Tenant Cases
NOTICE
Currently, we are accepting new cases in person. Appointments are preferred.
- For questions about submitting a new case call 215-686-7988
- For questions about relisting a case or submitting a petition call 215-686-7980
- For questions about submitting a writ of possession or alias writ of possession call 215-686-7989
What is a Landlord-Tenant Case?
The Philadelphia Municipal Court deals with cases involving a written lease or verbal rental agreement. The court can evict a tenant (the person renting a unit) or make one side pay the other. This is called a money judgment. A money judgment can be any amount. The court does not deal with cases involving a squatter and cannot force a landlord to make repairs.
A landlord can start a case to get the money a renter owes them. For example, a tenant might owe a landlord money for a repair when the security deposit does not cover the cost. A landlord can also start a case to evict a tenant if:
- The tenant did not pay rent after the landlord asked for it
- The tenant broke the lease
- The tenant did not leave the rental unit after the lease ended
Landlords must go through the legal court process to evict a tenant. Landlords cannot change the locks, cut off utilities or remove a tenant’s belongings from the property. These actions are illegal and come with penalties, fines, and damages. If you are a tenant trying to get your security deposit back, you can start a small claims case or start landlord-tenant case.
How can we help you today?
Forms
- Landlord-Tenant Form and Instructions: Submit a new Landlord-Tenant case
- Questionnaire for Rental Assistance: Include when you submit a Landlord-Tenant case
- Appointment of Authorized Representative Form: If you want someone to go to court for you, they need to submit this form. If you have a lawyer, they do not need to submit the form.
- Subpoena Form: Use this form to ask another person for their documents. Learn how to submit a subpoena.
- Confidential Document Form: Ask for a confidential document for your case
- Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis Form: Tell the court you are unable to pay a fee
- Notice to Appeal Form: Challenge the court's decision after a hearing
- Petition to Open Default Judgment Form: Explain why you missed your hearing
- Praecipe for Writ of Possession: Complete an eviction at least 10 days after your hearing
- Praecipe for Alias Writ of Possession: Complete an eviction at least 21 days after your hearing
Resources
- How to start a Landlord-Tenant Case
- How to search for your case information using the Municipal Court CLAIMS User Manual
- Sample Notice of Rights for Tenants: Send to your tenant before moving forwards with an eviction case
- Sample Proposed Repayment Agreement: Before moving forwards with an eviction case, try to come up with an agreement
- Filing Fees: Find out how much you will have to pay to submit a case or action
- Learn more about debt issues in Pennsylvania
- How to Get Legal Help
- The Philly Tenant Hotline: 267-443-2500 They can help guide you to your next step.
- Visit www.phillytenant.org for materials and information about your legal rights
- Attend a daily Tenant Rights Workshop at TURN. You can register online or by calling the Philly Tenant Hotline at 267-443-2500.
- How to get disability accommodations
- Notice of Language Rights: You have the right to an interpreter
Get free legal advice or a lawyer
If you are a tenant with a low income you can get free legal advice or a lawyer from these organizations.
- Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN)
- Call 215-940-3900
- Tenant service and advocacy organization offering Tenant Rights Workshops, Individual Counseling, and Tenant Union Organizing Assistance.
- Hotline Assistance 267-443-2500
- Community Legal Services
- Call 215-981-3700
- Free for low-income Philadelphians
- Listen to the recording for options when you call.
- Choose “Debt Collection or Consumer Scams” and leave a message. Tell them about your situation.
- You will get a call back in 1-2 days.
- SeniorLAW Center
- Call 215-988-1242
- Monday – Thursday, 10am - 12 pm
- Free if you are 60 or older
- Call and press option 2. Leave a message telling them about your situation. They will call you back.
- Legal Clinic for the Disabled
- Call 215-587-3158
- Free if you have a disability, chronic illness, or are deaf or hard of hearing and have an income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less.
- Call and press option 2
- Leave a message telling them about your situation and they will call you back
- AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania
- Call 215-587-9377 or 215-821-7899 or email intake@aidslawpa.org or intake@lawprojectpa.org.
- Free if you are living with HIV or are impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
- You can also apply online
- All messages will be returned within 8 business hours.
Pay a Lawyer for Help
- Philadelphia Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service
- Call 215-238-6333
- Monday – Friday, 9am - 5pm
- You will discuss your case briefly with someone, who can then match you with a lawyer.
- It costs $35 for a 30 minute consultation with the lawyer. It will cost more to hire the lawyer.
Call 215-686-7000 for general court information.
Contact
Business Hours
- Monday-Friday: 9am - 5pm
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
