Which disclosures must a Pennsylvania lease include?
Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law is governed by the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S.). Beyond the universal federal lead rule, the disclosures a Pennsylvania landlord must give at or around lease signing are:
| Disclosure | Authority | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit escrow bank notice | 68 P.S. § 250.511b | Deposits held in escrow beyond 2 years |
| Lead-based paint hazard + EPA pamphlet | Title X (federal) | Housing built before 1978 |
The main Pennsylvania lease disclosures
Security deposit escrow bank notice (68 P.S. § 250.511b): when a deposit is held in an escrow account beyond two years, the landlord must notify the tenant in writing of the name and address of the banking institution and the amount deposited.
Federal lead-based paint disclosure
For older housing this is the one disclosure no Pennsylvania landlord can skip. If the dwelling predates 1978, Title X (42 U.S.C. § 4852d) requires a signed lead-warning disclosure, disclosure of any known lead hazards, delivery of any available records, and the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home. Non-compliance carries civil penalties and, in egregious cases, criminal ones.
What happens if a Pennsylvania landlord skips a required disclosure?
Consequences depend on the disclosure:
- A missed 30-day itemized deposit return forfeits the right to withhold and exposes the landlord to double the amount wrongfully withheld (68 P.S. § 250.512).
- Some cities (for example, Philadelphia) add local certificate and disclosure requirements.
- A federal lead-paint violation carries civil and, in egregious cases, criminal penalties plus liability for tenant damages.
For the full set of Pennsylvania lease rules — deposits, late fees, and notice periods — see What Must a Pennsylvania Lease Agreement Include. Managing rentals in more than one state? Compare Pennsylvania's list with our New York and Ohio disclosure checklists, and see the baseline in What Every Residential Lease Agreement Must Include.
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Create your Pennsylvania lease agreement →Frequently asked questions
What disclosures are required in a Pennsylvania lease?
A Pennsylvania lease must include security deposit escrow bank notice (68 P.S. § 250.511b), plus the federal lead-based paint disclosure for pre-1978 housing.
Does Pennsylvania require a security deposit escrow bank notice disclosure?
Yes. when a deposit is held in an escrow account beyond two years, the landlord must notify the tenant in writing of the name and address of the banking institution and the amount deposited (68 P.S. § 250.511b).
Does Pennsylvania require a lead-paint disclosure?
Yes, for pre-1978 housing. This is a federal requirement: the signed lead-warning disclosure, known records, and the EPA pamphlet.
Official sources
Primary statutes and official government references for this guide. Statutes change — always confirm against the current official text before you act.