THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY SAYLOR, AUMENT, BOYD, COHEN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DAVIS, DONATUCCI, FARRY, FLECK, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MUNDY, MURT, PICKETT, SCAVELLO, VULAKOVICH, WAGNER AND WATSON, MAY 11, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, MAY 11, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), entitled "An

act relating to the rights, obligations and liabilities of

landlord and tenant and of parties dealing with them and

amending, revising, changing and consolidating the law

relating thereto," providing for the collection of rent upon

death.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known

as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, is amended by adding a

section to read:

Section 314.  Collection of Rent upon Death.--

(a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this act or law,

the term of the lease of a tenant who has died shall end on the

later of:

(1)  The last day of the calendar month that immediately

follows the calendar month in which the tenant died.

(2)  Upon surrender of the rental unit and removal of all of

the tenant's personal property by the executor or administrator

of the deceased tenant's estate.

(b)  If by the close of the calendar month that immediately

follows the calendar month in which the tenant died the executor

or administrator of the tenant's estate has not arranged to

continue the lease term and has not removed all of the tenant's

personal property, the landlord may dispose of the property and

the landlord shall have no further responsibility regarding the

property. The landlord shall not be liable to the deceased

tenant's estate for any damages relating to the disposal of the

property.

(c)  Nothing under this section shall be construed to relieve

the deceased tenant's estate of liability for any expenses the

landlord incurs as a direct result of the tenant's death, such

as the cost of cleaning or restoring the premises. The deceased

tenant's estate shall be liable for any rent or damages that

were owed prior to the date of the tenant's death.

Section 2.  The addition of section 314 of the act shall

apply to leases entered into or extended on or after the

effective date of this section.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.