Last updated: April 2026
Allentown renters are protected by Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, which sets rules on security deposits, eviction notice, and habitability — but the city has no rent control and no local tenant ordinances beyond state law.
Want to check your specific address? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Allentown is Pennsylvania's third-largest city, with a population of approximately 125,000 residents in Lehigh County. A significant share of Allentown households are renters, and the city's rental market has seen rising rents in recent years as housing demand has grown across the greater Lehigh Valley. Tenants here frequently search for information about eviction procedures, security deposit rules, and whether landlords can raise rent without limits.
Allentown renters are governed exclusively by Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 Pa. C.S. §§ 250.101–250.602) and common-law habitability protections recognized by Pennsylvania courts. The city has not enacted any local tenant-protection ordinances, so state law is the full extent of your rights. Understanding those state protections is critical — especially the deposit return deadline, eviction notice requirements, and your right to a habitable home.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change, and individual situations vary. If you are facing eviction or a housing dispute, contact a qualified attorney or legal aid organization as soon as possible.
Allentown has no rent control, and Pennsylvania law expressly forbids it. Under 68 Pa. C.S. § 250.510, local governments in Pennsylvania are preempted from enacting any ordinance, resolution, or regulation that controls or limits the amount of rent a landlord may charge. This means Allentown — and every other municipality in the Commonwealth — cannot establish rent stabilization or rent control, regardless of local housing conditions.
In practice, this means your landlord may raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenants, with the legally required advance notice (15 days for tenancies under one year, 30 days after one year — see 68 Pa. C.S. § 250.501). There is no cap on how much a rent increase can be, and no requirement that increases be tied to inflation or any other index. If you cannot afford the new rent, your only legal options are to negotiate with your landlord, give proper notice to vacate, or seek rental assistance.
Renters in Allentown should be aware that Philadelphia has adopted certain additional tenant protections under local ordinances — but those apply only within Philadelphia city limits. No equivalent local protections exist in Allentown or Lehigh County.
Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 Pa. C.S. §§ 250.101–250.602) is the primary source of tenant rights in Allentown. Below are the key protections that apply to you as an Allentown renter.
Security Deposits (68 Pa. C.S. § 250.511–250.512): Landlords may collect a security deposit of no more than two months' rent during the first year of tenancy. After the first year, the cap drops to one month's rent, and the landlord must return any excess within 30 days of the anniversary date. At move-out, the landlord has 30 days to return your deposit along with a written itemized list of any deductions. Failure to comply can result in a judgment for double the wrongfully withheld amount plus attorney's fees.
Notice to Terminate (68 Pa. C.S. § 250.501): For month-to-month or year-to-year tenancies of less than one year, landlords must provide at least 15 days' written notice before the end of a rental period to terminate the tenancy. For tenancies of one year or more, the required notice increases to 30 days. Tenants must provide the same notice to landlords when vacating.
Implied Warranty of Habitability: Pennsylvania courts recognize an implied warranty of habitability, requiring landlords to maintain rental units in a safe and livable condition. This includes functioning heating, plumbing, electrical systems, and structural soundness. Tenants who provide written notice of serious defects and receive no timely repair may have the right to withhold rent or pursue rent escrow through the courts, though these remedies should be pursued carefully and ideally with legal guidance.
Anti-Retaliation Protections: Pennsylvania courts recognize retaliatory eviction as an affirmative defense. If a landlord attempts to evict you, raises your rent, or reduces services within six months of you reporting a code violation, complaining to a housing authority, or exercising any legal tenant right, you may raise retaliation as a defense in eviction proceedings. Document all complaints in writing and keep copies.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition: Pennsylvania law prohibits self-help evictions. A landlord cannot remove you from the premises, change your locks, or shut off your utilities to force you out without going through the formal court eviction process. Such actions are unlawful and may give rise to a claim for damages.
Pennsylvania's security deposit rules are set out in 68 Pa. C.S. §§ 250.511–250.512 and are among the most important protections for Allentown renters.
Cap on Deposit Amount: During the first year of a tenancy, a landlord may collect no more than two months' rent as a security deposit. Beginning with the second year of the same continuous tenancy, the cap drops to one month's rent. If the landlord collected two months' rent at move-in and you remain past one year, the landlord must return the excess amount — the difference between two months and one month's rent — within 30 days of the one-year anniversary of your lease.
Return Deadline: After you vacate the unit, your landlord has exactly 30 days to either return your full security deposit or provide you with a written itemized list of deductions and return any remaining balance (68 Pa. C.S. § 250.512). The 30-day clock starts from the date you vacate and provide your new mailing address. It is best practice to provide your forwarding address in writing at or before move-out.
Penalty for Non-Compliance: If your landlord fails to return your deposit or provide the required itemized statement within 30 days, Pennsylvania law entitles you to recover double the amount of the security deposit that was wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees (68 Pa. C.S. § 250.512(b)). To protect your rights, take dated photos of the unit at move-out, obtain a receipt for your keys, and send your forwarding address via certified mail.
Interest on Deposits: If you have lived in the same unit for two or more years, the landlord is required to place your deposit in an interest-bearing account and pay you the accrued interest annually, less a 1% administrative fee (68 Pa. C.S. § 250.511b).
In Allentown, a landlord must follow Pennsylvania's formal eviction process — known as a landlord-tenant complaint — to remove a tenant. Self-help evictions are illegal under Pennsylvania law.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing with the court, the landlord must provide written notice. The required notice period depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing with the Magisterial District Court: If you do not comply with the notice, the landlord may file a landlord-tenant complaint with the Magisterial District Court serving Allentown (Lehigh County). You will be served with a summons and scheduled for a hearing, typically within 7 to 15 days of filing.
Step 3 — Hearing: At the hearing before the Magisterial District Judge, both you and your landlord may present evidence. You have the right to assert defenses — such as the landlord's failure to maintain habitability or retaliation. If judgment is entered against you, you have 10 days to appeal to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas, which stays the eviction while the appeal is pending (Pa. R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 1008).
Step 4 — Order for Possession: If the landlord wins and you do not vacate or appeal, the landlord may request an Order for Possession after 10 days. A constable or sheriff then serves the order, and you typically have an additional 10 days before physical removal can be carried out.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord may never remove your belongings, change your locks, or shut off your utilities as a way to force you out. These actions are unlawful under Pennsylvania law regardless of whether you owe rent or have violated your lease. If a landlord does this, contact local police and a legal aid organization immediately — you may be entitled to damages.
No Just-Cause Requirement: Allentown has no just-cause eviction ordinance. At the end of a fixed-term lease, a landlord may decline to renew for any lawful reason, provided proper written notice is given. Only Philadelphia has enacted a Good Cause Eviction Standard, and it does not apply in Allentown.
No. Allentown has no rent control, and Pennsylvania state law expressly prohibits local governments from enacting rent control ordinances under 68 Pa. C.S. § 250.510. This means your landlord can raise your rent by any amount at the end of your lease or, for month-to-month tenants, with the legally required advance written notice. There is no cap on rent increases anywhere in Pennsylvania.
There is no limit on how much a landlord can raise rent in Allentown or anywhere in Pennsylvania, because state law (68 Pa. C.S. § 250.510) preempts all local rent control measures. For month-to-month tenants, the landlord must provide at least 15 days' written notice of a rent increase for tenancies under one year, and 30 days' notice for tenancies of one year or more, per 68 Pa. C.S. § 250.501. If you cannot afford the new rent, you may give proper notice to vacate or attempt to negotiate with your landlord.
Your landlord has 30 days from the date you vacate and provide your forwarding address to return your security deposit along with a written itemized list of any deductions, under 68 Pa. C.S. § 250.512. If your landlord fails to meet this deadline without justification, you may be entitled to recover double the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees. Always document your move-out condition with photos and provide your forwarding address in writing to start the 30-day clock.
The required notice depends on the reason for eviction and the length of your tenancy. For non-payment of rent, landlords must provide 10 days' written notice under 68 Pa. C.S. § 250.501(b). For lease violations or end-of-tenancy evictions, the notice is 15 days for tenancies under one year and 30 days for tenancies of one year or more under 68 Pa. C.S. § 250.501(a). After the notice period expires, the landlord must file a formal complaint with the Magisterial District Court — they cannot remove you without a court order.
No. Self-help evictions — including changing your locks, removing your belongings, or shutting off utilities to force you out — are illegal under Pennsylvania law regardless of whether you owe rent or have violated your lease. A landlord must obtain a court Order for Possession through the Magisterial District Court process before you can be legally removed from the premises. If a landlord locks you out or shuts off utilities, contact local police and a legal aid organization like Lehigh Valley Legal Services immediately, as you may be entitled to damages.
Pennsylvania courts recognize an implied warranty of habitability, requiring landlords to maintain units in a safe and livable condition. If your landlord refuses to make essential repairs after you have provided written notice, you may have the right to withhold rent or pursue a rent escrow action through the court — but these remedies carry legal risk and should be pursued carefully. You can also file a complaint with the City of Allentown's Department of Community & Economic Development or the Lehigh County housing authorities, which can prompt a code inspection. Contact Lehigh Valley Legal Services for guidance before taking action.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws and local ordinances can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. If you are facing eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other housing legal matter, you should consult a licensed attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in Lehigh County or Pennsylvania as soon as possible. Do not rely solely on this page to make decisions about your tenancy.
We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.
Learn about tenant rights in other Pennsylvania cities:
Home | About | Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
© RentCheckMe. All rights reserved. Design: HTML5 UP.