Governor Wolf and Attorney General Shapiro Attempt to Prohibit Evictions and Foreclosures

Today the Governor of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Attorney General took the outrageous step of attempting to prohibit evictions and foreclosures until July 10, 2020. This move is a violation of basic separation of powers principles that you may remember from 6th Grade Social Studies. The Governor and Attorney General are both members of the … Continue reading Governor Wolf and Attorney General Shapiro Attempt to Prohibit Evictions and Foreclosures

Landlord-Tenant Eviction Process and Rights During the COVID-19 Pandemic

An unprecedented time in Pennsylvania law will be occurring in the next few weeks. For the past six weeks, Pennsylvania has been under work restrictions which have led to record numbers of employees being laid off or furloughed. This has led to tremendous numbers of tenants who have not paid rent for April or May. … Continue reading Landlord-Tenant Eviction Process and Rights During the COVID-19 Pandemic

A Pennsylvania tenant’s right to recover a security deposit.

Under Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, 68 P.S. '250.101, et. Seq., a landlord may require a security deposit to be held for tenant caused damages and possible past due rent. See 68 P.S. §250.511 and §250.512. A security deposit is not the same as rent. It is money that actually belongs to the … Continue reading A Pennsylvania tenant’s right to recover a security deposit.

Concerns on both sides when drafting a commercial lease for a medical marijuana business.

In the upcoming year, medical marijuana businesses will be applying for permits to conduct business in Pennsylvania as either a grower/processor or a dispensary. In my previous blog, I commented on how it may be significantly more costly to rent property for a medical marijuana business than a non-marijuana business as result of the risks … Continue reading Concerns on both sides when drafting a commercial lease for a medical marijuana business.

Watch out for Higher Rents For Medical Marijuana Businesses

Any entrepreneur looking to participate in Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana program understands that one of the biggest expenses and concerns is the location of the operation of the marijuana business venture.  The Pennsylvania Department of Health is planning on issuing 25 permits for grower/processors and 50 permits for dispensaries (with up to three locations per each … Continue reading Watch out for Higher Rents For Medical Marijuana Businesses

At-Will Eviction Term in a Residential Lease for One-Year Term

A residential lease is usually for a term of one year. There are other terms, like month-to-month leases, or six-month terms, or even a term for over a year. Usually, the terms between the landlord and tenant are memorialized in a contract, called a lease. The lease is a mixture of several areas of law. … Continue reading At-Will Eviction Term in a Residential Lease for One-Year Term

Landlord-Tenant: Brief Overview

A residential lease is where the landlord and tenant enter into a contract to lease premises, real property, for the sole purpose of living. The real property is used as a home. The classic example of a lease is for an apartment. The lease can also be for a house or mobile home. The lease … Continue reading Landlord-Tenant: Brief Overview

Landlord Tenant & Infestation – What Can A Tenant Do

I recently had a friend contact me with questions about Landlord-Tenant law in Pennsylvania.  Here is the story: I have been living in our apartment for a little over four years. Within the past year there has been an infestation of roaches. ( we had the problem in 2011&2012 but is subsided) We brought this … Continue reading Landlord Tenant & Infestation – What Can A Tenant Do

Landlord/Tenant: What Your Landlord Should NOT Do to Treat Your Bed Bug Infestation

By Matthew T. Hovey, Esquire An increasingly problem for renters in Pennsylvania is the issue of bed bugs.  Bed bugs, however, are becoming a serious a problem for landords as well, especially given a recent report published in the Journal of Economic Entomology by researchers at Ohio State University.  The study focused on ineffective treatments for … Continue reading Landlord/Tenant: What Your Landlord Should NOT Do to Treat Your Bed Bug Infestation

Press Release: Attorney Hovey to be Featured on Tonight’s WFMZ-69’s 6:00pm Newscast Concerning Tenants Rights and Absentee Landlords

We are proud to announce that Attorney Matthew T. Hovey of Prince Law Offices, P.C. will be featured this evening on WFMZ-69's 6:00pm newscast.  Attorney Hovey was interviewed this afternoon about tenants' rights and their ability to address absentee landlords. Landlords who fail to respond legitimate complains from tenants about housing conditions is a serious … Continue reading Press Release: Attorney Hovey to be Featured on Tonight’s WFMZ-69’s 6:00pm Newscast Concerning Tenants Rights and Absentee Landlords