Renting in Pennsylvania in 2025 comes with important rules and rights for tenants facing possible rent hikes. While some states and cities have strict rent control, Pennsylvania has not enacted statewide rent caps or rent stabilization—but that doesn’t mean landlords can raise the rent at any time or by any amount with no limits. Here’s what tenants need to know this year.
No Statewide Rent Cap or Rent Control
Unlike places such as New York or California, Pennsylvania has no statewide rent control or rent increase limits. Landlords can raise the rent by any percentage or dollar amount as long as they follow proper legal procedures. Local governments (like Philadelphia) may have specific ordinances, but there are no state laws restricting how much a landlord can increase rent for most properties in Pennsylvania.
Advance Written Notice Is Required
Notice Periods: Pennsylvania law requires landlords to give:
Landlords cannot raise rent in the middle of a fixed-term lease (such as a one-year lease) unless the lease itself allows for increases during the term.
Written Notice Is Mandatory
The law requires that any notice of rent increase:
Be provided in writing—not verbally.
Clearly state the new rent amount and the effective date.
Comply with the tenant’s lease agreement and the notice periods listed above.
If a landlord does not provide proper written notice within the required timeframe, the rent increase is invalid until proper notification is given. Tenants may challenge an invalid increase in court.
No Retaliation or Discrimination
Landlords cannot raise the rent in retaliation for a tenant exercising legal rights, such as filing a complaint or reporting unsafe conditions.
Rent increases cannot be used to discriminate against tenants based on protected characteristics under federal or state Fair Housing Laws (including race, religion, disability, and more).
Fixed-Term Lease Rules
If you have a fixed-term (e.g., one-year) lease, rent cannot be increased during the lease period unless the lease has a specific clause allowing it. At renewal, the landlord can propose an increase and the tenant can decide whether to accept the new terms or move out.
New Reform and Proposed Legislation
While there are no statewide rent caps in effect as of 2025, lawmakers are considering bills that could introduce percentage caps (like a 10% annual limit), require “just cause” for evictions, and increase transparency in application fees. None of these laws have taken full effect yet, but tenants are encouraged to monitor the latest news for updates.
Additional Tenant Protections
In 2025, Pennsylvania tenants must be given advance written notice before any rent hike, but there’s no state-imposed maximum on rent increases. If the rules aren’t properly followed, tenants have the right to challenge increases. Always refer to your lease, understand your city’s rules, and, when in doubt, seek help from a local tenant advocacy group or legal aid.
Sources
[1] https://www.hemlane.com/resources/pennsylvania-rent-control-laws/
[2] https://rentpost.com/resources/article/raise-rent-laws-in-pennsylvania/
[3] https://renters.equalhousing.org/application-lease/rent-increases/
[4] https://www.steadily.com/blog/rent-increase-laws-regulations-pennsylvania
[5] https://www.avail.co/education/articles/pennsylvania-landlord-tenant-laws-overview-for-landlords
