Utility Service Tenants Rights Act
The Utility Service Tenants Rights Act is a law in Pennsylvania that requires utility companies to provide the tenant of a rental unit at least 30 days of advance notice before shutting off utility services, such as heat, electricity, water and sewer services.
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Significance
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The law provides tenants with a legal means to continue their utility services in the event that a landlord stops making payments to a utility company.
Time Frame
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Under the law, the utility company must give the landlord a minimum of 37 days notice that the utility services will be shut off for nonpayment. Within seven days of giving this notice to the landlord, the utility must notify the tenant.
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Features
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The tenant is allowed by law to make payments to the utility company to keep his services, then deduct the amount of those payments from any rental payments to the landlord. In addition, if the landlord sues the tenant for nonpayment of rent, the tenant can countersue in Magisterial District Judge court for two months of rental payments.
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