The Executor or Administrator of the Estate of a residential tenant may terminate the lease early.

Posted By Cliff Tuttle | January 24, 2018

No. 1,404

Image: nepamcgraw.com

The Landlord and Tenant Act was amended in 2011 to give the executor or administrator of a deceased tenant who was the sole resident of a residential unit the right to terminate the lease upon 14 days’ written notice to the landlord.  The termination will be effective on the last day of the month after death or upon surrender of the rental unit and removal of all of the decedent’s property, whichever comes last.

This provision was intended to eliminate the so-called “death penalty”  whereby the estate may have been required to pay the balance of the rent for the term of the lease.

Here is copy of the amending statute, House Bill 1526 of 2011.

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CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

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