CGA Law News & Blog

COVID-19 Update: Landlord Tenant Issues

access_time Posted on: March 27th, 2020

COVID-19 Update: Landlord Tenant Issues

The Issue of Paying Rent

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has recognized that this can be a difficult time for both tenants and landlords.  Many people have heard that the court put a hold on evictions during this crisis but there is additional information for landlords and tenants to know. 


As of March 16, 2020, all MDJ hearings involving active landlord tenant cases were postponed for at least 30 days.  Any newly filed matters involving landlord tenant issues will be scheduled for a time at least 75 days away.  These times are constantly subject to change and they could be extended by the courts. 

The PA Supreme Court did indeed put a stop to evictions until April 3rd and declared that the court system will not be removing tenants until after that time.  This time might also be extended.  However, this only applies to evictions for nonpayment of rent and it does NOT mean that tenants do not have to pay rent.  The PA Supreme Court’s March 19, 2020 guidance acknowledges that the Pennsylvania Constitution prevents the impairment of contractual obligations. This means that the order does NOT eliminate the tenant’s responsibility to pay rent.  Tenants who are able should continue to pay rent on time.  Tenants should be aware that although landlords cannot evict them now, this moratorium on evictions will eventually end and rent will be due.

Tenants should be aware that although landlords cannot evict them right now, this moratorium on evictions will eventually end and rent will be due.  The temporary suspension of evictions does not excuse breaches of the lease.  When the courts reopen, evictions will be able to proceed.   


If you are concerned about a landlord tenant issue, please contact Attorney Schenck at CGA Law Firm at (717) 848-4900 for a consultation. 


CGA’s latest blog posts.

Green Acres: Pennsylvania’s ACRE Law and How It Helps Farmers

The agriculture industry represents a critical component to a thriving Pennsylvania economy. Currently, Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture estimates that farmlands occupy 7.3 million acres of land across the state. This means that farm lands constitutes twenty-five percent of Pennsylvania’s  total land mass!! Agriculture contributes $132.5 billion to the economy each year, and one out of…

Continue Reading Green Acres: Pennsylvania’s ACRE Law and How It Helps Farmers

Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act Restricts Local Government’s Ability to Amend Meeting Agenda

In 2021, the Sunshine Act was amended to provide new requirements for publishing and posting public meeting agendas.  The amendment required local governing bodies to post agendas to their publicly accessible website at least 24 hours in advance of the public meeting. The Sunshine Act amendment, however, provided limited exceptions to allow governing bodies to…

Continue Reading Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act Restricts Local Government’s Ability to Amend Meeting Agenda