[PA] The landlord wants to enter my apartment without the 24-hour notice requirement as dictated by our lease. What can I do?
I texted him back saying, “You’re not getting in until we go before the judge.” He said, “I’m the landlord and I’m going to be here.”
I’ve already had the police down here this weekend for the invasion of privacy — I woke up in the afternoon to find a teenager standing in my bathroom window.
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In Pennsylvania, your landlord must provide at least 24 hours’ notice before entering your rental for non-emergency reasons. (Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission)
What you’ve described does not qualify as an emergency.
If he enters without notice again, you can call the police, as you did before, and document everything — including texts, photos, and police reports. That strengthens your case if this ends up in court.
You are not obligated to let him in tomorrow just to take measurements or check a filter — those are not urgent repairs.
Keep saving all texts and reports — they’ll be helpful if this leads to a hearing or a claim for harassment or unlawful entry.
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Question about a landlord–tenant matter.
I understand that dealing with landlord–tenant issues can be stressful. Can you please describe the specific problem you are facing with your landlord or tenant?
Yes, very stressful. I had spoken with one of your lawyers before, who explained that if you’re handed an eviction notice in Pennsylvania that isn’t processed correctly — for example, handwritten or typed and not filed through the court — it’s illegal.
One of the issues we have is the landlord invading privacy. The lease states that 24-hour notice is required for entry unless it’s an emergency repair. There’s no emergency repair right now, but he’s telling me he’s going to show up at 12:00 or 12:30 tomorrow.
I texted him back saying, “You’re not getting in until we go before the judge.” He said, “I’m the landlord and I’m going to be here.”
I’ve already had the police down here this weekend for the invasion of privacy — I woke up in the afternoon to find a teenager standing in my bathroom window.
Have you already taken any steps to address this issue, such as communicating with your landlord or tenant?
I am the tenant.
Is there anything else the landlord–tenant lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they’ll be able to help with your eviction notice.
Yes.
Hello! My name is Michael, and I’m an attorney ready to help. Your responses matter to me, so I only need a few minutes to review and respond to each of your posts.
Has the court or any agency given you specific written restrictions on your contact with anyone, or is this just something the caseworker told you verbally?
This is a tenant–landlord dispute.
I was handed a typed letter of eviction to move by August 1st with no reason. I had spoken with an attorney from your company who told me that in Pennsylvania, a landlord must have a reason and that I don’t have to let him in to do repairs unless they are emergency repairs.
This Saturday, I woke up, went into my bathroom, and there was a teenager standing in my window.
I went out and told him he couldn’t be back there, and then the landlord — who’s in a wheelchair — came around the corner.
I told him he must give me 24-hour notice and can’t just show up to make any kind of repairs. He started yelling, saying, “I’m the landlord,” and it escalated.
I called the police to file a report on it.
Now he insists that tomorrow between 12:00 and 12:30, he wants to come in “just to take measurements for remodeling.”
I have texts that show this. He also says he wants to check the furnace filter, which has already been changed — and he knows that. That’s not an emergency either.
Thanks! Just a few more questions. Have there been any previous incidents where the landlord entered without notice, or is this the first time this has happened?
The excuse he gave the cops Saturday was that “a corner cover for flashing came off three years ago in a storm” and he was having his man inspect it — but that was just an excuse.
The teenager had no tools or equipment, and there was no 24-hour notice as required by the lease.
In Pennsylvania, your landlord must provide at least 24 hours’ notice before entering your rental for non-emergency reasons. (Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission)
What you’ve described does not qualify as an emergency.
If he enters without notice again, you can call the police, as you did before, and document everything — including texts, photos, and police reports. That strengthens your case if this ends up in court.
You are not obligated to let him in tomorrow just to take measurements or check a filter — those are not urgent repairs.
Keep saving all texts and reports — they’ll be helpful if this leads to a hearing or a claim for harassment or unlawful entry.
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