Pennsylvania Room Rental Agreement Template

An agreement for renting one bedroom in a shared home, with private and shared areas, house rules, a fair utility split and clear notice terms. This edition fills in the Pennsylvania rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.

Pennsylvania rules for this form

Deposit limit. During the first year of a lease the deposit may not exceed two months of rent, and from the second year or a renewal on, one month. After five years, a rent increase cannot be used to raise the deposit. (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, section 511.1)

Deadline to return the deposit. Within 30 days after the lease ends or the tenant surrenders the unit, the landlord must return the deposit or send a written list of damages with the balance. (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, section 512)

Notice before entry. No statute sets a notice period for landlord entry, so the lease generally governs, and reasonable advance notice is expected. (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (no entry notice rule))

Month-to-month notice. A landlord ends a month to month tenancy with a 15 day written notice to quit. (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, section 501)

Required disclosures. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet. (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d))

Required disclosures. When a deposit over 100 dollars is placed in escrow, the landlord must tell the tenant in writing which institution holds it and how much was deposited. (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, section 511.2)

Cities and counties in Pennsylvania can add their own rules on top of these. Check local ordinances before you sign.

What is in the template

1. Parties
2. The room and shared areas
3. Term
4. Rent
5. Utilities and household costs
6. Security deposit
7. House rules
8. Privacy and entry
9. Care and repairs
10. Ending this Agreement for a breach
11. Moving out
12. General terms
13. Signatures

Before you use it

• A room rental agreement covers one private room plus shared use of common areas like the kitchen and bathroom.
• House rules on guests, quiet hours, cleaning and shared costs prevent most housemate disputes.
• Some states treat a renter who lives with the owner differently, especially for eviction, so check before you rely on it.
• Fair housing law still applies to most room rentals, though some owner-occupied homes have narrow exemptions.

For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the room rental agreement.