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Pennsylvania notice to pay rent or quit
As of October 27, 2026, a Pennsylvania notice to quit for unpaid rent gives the tenant 10 days from service to leave, unless the lease allows a shorter notice or waives it.1
Once a Pennsylvania landlord files the complaint, the magisterial district judge issues a summons for a hearing set 7 to 10 days from the summons date.1
Pennsylvania at a glance
- Days to pay or move out
- 10 days1
A dash or a missing box means the official pages we read do not state that rule; we never fill it in from memory.
Preview of the document
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
State of Pennsylvania
1. Notice to pay rent or quit
Date: Date. To: Tenant, and all other occupants. Property: Address, county County.
2. Rent past due
As of the date of this notice, you owe Amount in rent for period under your rental agreement for the property listed above. This amount is rent only.
3. Pay or move out
4. How to pay
5. Federal 30-day notice, when it applies
6. If the rent is not paid
7. Signatures
8. Proof of delivery
Sections 3–8 unlock after purchase. Prepared with SimplePaperwork, which is not a law firm.
Pennsylvania’s rules, with sources
- State form
- Deadlines
- Under Section 501 of the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, a notice to quit for rent the tenant failed to pay on demand must allow 10 days from the date it is served.1
- Delivering the notice
- The Pennsylvania notice to quit may be handed to the tenant, left at the main building on the property, or posted where it is easy to see on the rented premises.1
- Where it is filed
- Once a Pennsylvania landlord files the complaint, the magisterial district judge issues a summons for a hearing set 7 to 10 days from the summons date.1
- Law
- In Philadelphia, Code Section 9-811 requires the landlord to send a Notice of Diversion Rights and take part in the city’s Eviction Diversion Program before filing an eviction case.2
Questions about a Pennsylvania pay-or-quit notice
How many days does a Pennsylvania tenant get after a notice to quit for unpaid rent?
Ten days from the date the notice is served, under Section 501(b) of the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951. The clock runs from service, so the notice should record the date it was handed over, left or posted.
The lease controls if it says otherwise: Section 501(e) allows a shorter notice, or no notice at all, when the lease provides for it. Many leases include such a clause, so it is worth reading before counting.1
How is a Pennsylvania notice to quit served?
Three ways are listed in the Act: in person to the tenant, by leaving it at the principal building on the premises, or by posting it conspicuously on the leased property. Mail is not on that list for the notice to quit, although the court summons that follows can go by mail.1
Does Philadelphia add a step before a nonpayment eviction?
Yes. A Philadelphia landlord sends the city’s Notice of Diversion Rights and applies to the Eviction Diversion Program before going to court, where a housing counselor or mediation may be assigned. The 10-day notice to quit under state law still applies.1,2
What to have at hand
- Property address, unit and county
- The exact rent past due and the rental periods it covers
- Who takes the rent, where, and the hours for paying in person
- Whether the property has a federally backed mortgage or a federal housing program
It does not evict anyone. Only a court can order a tenant out; this notice is the step that usually comes before filing.
Where this information comes from
Pennsylvania’s rules above come from the state’s own statutes, agency pages and forms, read on the date shown. A rule that passes its review date without a new check is removed automatically.
- Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (Pennsylvania General Assembly, unconsolidated statutes) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
- Notice of Diversion Rights (City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Municipal Court) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
Something changed? Tell us what is out of date and we will check the official page again.