Landautomate

The Pennsylvania landlord calendar

Landautomate keeps an operating calendar for independent landlords: what needs doing on a rental, when it is due, and why. This page is the Pennsylvania content from our reviewed rule base. Every item below carries its sources and the date we last checked them.

What Landautomate does with this page

This guide is the reading version of our Pennsylvania rule base. In the app, the same rules become dated tasks on each of your Pennsylvania properties, timed to your purchase date, lease dates, property age, and climate, with an email before each one is due. The free preview shows a sample of that schedule for Pennsylvania in under a minute, no account needed.

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Pennsylvania compliance obligations

Pennsylvania landlords commonly track 6 state and local compliance obligations, each listed below with its schedule, its sources, and the date we last verified it. Among them: file Pennsylvania annual report by September 30 (LLCs), pay Philadelphia real estate tax by March 31, and renew Philadelphia lead-safe certification every four years.

File Pennsylvania annual report by September 30 (LLCs)

Starting in 2025 Pennsylvania LLCs must file a $7 annual report with the Department of State by September 30 each year, with administrative dissolution penalties beginning in 2027.

Each year around September 30 · Last verified August 2026 · source 1 · source 2

Obtain Certificate of Rental Suitability before each new tenancy

Philadelphia landlords must give each new tenant a Certificate of Rental Suitability issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections no more than 60 days before the start of the tenancy, plus the City of Philadelphia Partners in Good Housing Handbook (Phila. Code 9-3903). An owner who does not comply cannot lawfully collect rent or recover possession for the period of noncompliance.

On a recurring schedule · Last verified August 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3

Pay Philadelphia real estate tax by March 31

Philadelphia real estate tax is due in full on March 31, after which interest and additions accrue at 1.5% per month.

Each year around March 31 · Last verified August 2026 · source 1 · source 2

Renew Philadelphia lead-safe certification every four years

Philadelphia rental properties built before March 1978 must be certified lead-safe or lead-free to obtain or renew a rental license. Lead-safe certificates expire after four years; lead-free certification does not expire.

On a recurring schedule · Last verified August 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3

Renew Philadelphia rental license annually

Philadelphia rental licenses are valid for one year from issuance, and a landlord without a current license cannot collect rent or enforce a lease in court.

On a recurring schedule · Last verified August 2026 · source 1 · source 2

Return security deposit with itemized statement within 30 days of move-out

Pennsylvania law (68 P.S. 250.512) requires providing a written list of damages and returning the balance of the deposit within 30 days of lease termination or surrender. Missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit, and a landlord who fails to return the difference within 30 days owes the tenant double the amount wrongfully held. The double damages remedy applies only if the tenant gave a forwarding address in writing, so collect and document that address at move-out.

On a recurring schedule · Last verified August 2026 · source 1

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Seasonal maintenance for Pennsylvania

Landlords in Pennsylvania plan upkeep around a cold climate: this guide lists 10 seasonal maintenance items for Pennsylvania in calendar order, each with its timing and the date we last verified it. Among them: smoke and CO detector seasonal test, spring thaw inspection: roof and foundation, and furnace inspection before heating season.

Smoke and CO detector seasonal test

An annual full test of smoke and CO detectors (beyond battery swaps) confirms every alarm actually sounds.

Around March · Verified before August 2026

Complete spring exterior inspection after winter thaw

An April walk-through catches freeze-thaw damage to roofs, masonry, and walkways before spring rains turn small defects into leaks.

Each year around April 1 · Last verified August 2026 · source 1

Spring thaw inspection: roof and foundation

Freeze-thaw cycles crack roofs and foundations; a spring inspection catches winter damage early.

Around April · Verified before August 2026

Test and service furnaces in late September

Running each heating system for a test cycle in late September leaves time for repairs before the early-to-mid October heating start in most of the state.

Each year around September 15 · Last verified August 2026 · source 1 · source 2 · source 3

Furnace inspection before heating season

A pre-season furnace inspection prevents mid-winter heating failures and carbon monoxide risk.

Around September · Verified before August 2026

Winterize exterior plumbing before mid-October freeze

Draining hose bibs, irrigation lines, and unheated pipes by early October prevents burst pipes and water damage. Pennsylvania's average first freeze ranges from late September in the northern mountains to mid November in the Philadelphia area, so early October covers nearly every property with margin.

Each year around October 1 · Last verified August 2026 · source 1 · source 2

Winterize exterior plumbing and irrigation

Draining exterior lines before the first hard freeze prevents burst pipes and water damage.

Around October · Verified before August 2026

Clean gutters and downspouts after leaf drop

Clearing gutters in November prevents ice dams and foundation drainage problems through Pennsylvania's freeze-thaw winter.

Each year around November 1 · Last verified August 2026 · source 1 · source 2

Stage snow and ice removal plan and supplies

Contracting snow removal and stocking ice melt by mid-November reduces slip-and-fall liability and keeps sidewalks compliant with municipal clearing ordinances.

Each year around November 15 · Last verified August 2026 · source 1 · source 2

Gutter cleaning after leaf fall

Clearing gutters after leaf drop prevents ice dams and roofline water damage in winter.

Around November · Verified before August 2026

Baseline upkeep for every rental

Every rental needs the same baseline care regardless of state: this guide tracks 16 recurring upkeep items, each with its schedule and the date we last verified it. Among them: CPA tax document preparation, gutter inspection, and HVAC filter replacement.

CPA tax document preparation

Organized records make tax filing accurate and deductions defensible.

Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Gutter inspection

Clear gutters prevent water intrusion, foundation, and roof damage.

Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

HVAC filter replacement

Clean filters protect HVAC equipment and keep energy costs down.

Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Insurance renewal review

Confirms coverage limits and premiums still match the property risk.

Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

LLC annual filing prep

Keeps the ownership entity in good standing with state filings.

Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Lease renewal planning

Planning renewals ahead of time reduces vacancy and turnover costs.

Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Maintenance review

Keeps small maintenance issues from turning into expensive repairs.

Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Owner distribution check

Verifies owner cash distributions reconcile with rent and expenses.

Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Pest inspection

Early pest detection prevents structural damage and habitability complaints.

Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Property tax review

Reviewing assessments can surface appeal opportunities and budget changes.

Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Rent collection review

Confirms rent was received on time and surfaces collection issues early.

Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Rent increase review

Keeps rent aligned with market rates and local rent regulations.

Within 365 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Smoke detector battery check

Working smoke and CO detectors are a life-safety and legal requirement.

Within 90 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Utilities minimal-service verification

Confirms vacant-property utilities stay at minimal service so pipes, alarms, and sump pumps keep working.

Within 14 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Utility reconciliation

Catches billing errors and unexpected usage spikes on property utilities.

Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Vacant property security check

Regular walkthroughs of a vacant property deter break-ins, squatting, and unnoticed damage.

Within 30 days of the triggering event · Verified before August 2026

Common questions

What are the compliance requirements for Pennsylvania landlords?

Our reviewed rule base currently lists 6 state and local compliance obligations that Pennsylvania landlords commonly track. Among them: file Pennsylvania annual report by September 30 (LLCs), pay Philadelphia real estate tax by March 31, and renew Philadelphia lead-safe certification every four years. Each obligation shows its schedule, the sources it was checked against, and the date we last verified it. This guide is general information for planning reminders, not legal advice.

What seasonal maintenance should Pennsylvania landlords plan for?

The Pennsylvania guide lists 10 seasonal maintenance items timed to a cold climate, in calendar order. Among them: smoke and CO detector seasonal test, spring thaw inspection: roof and foundation, and furnace inspection before heating season. Landautomate turns each item into a dated reminder on your property calendar so the work is planned before the season arrives.

What routine upkeep should every Pennsylvania rental get?

Alongside state specific work, the Pennsylvania guide tracks 16 baseline upkeep items that apply to nearly every rental. Among them: CPA tax document preparation, gutter inspection, and HVAC filter replacement. These recur on a regular schedule, and Landautomate schedules each one automatically for every property you add.

How does Landautomate verify Pennsylvania landlord rules?

Every rule in the Pennsylvania guide goes through human review before it is published, and each rule shows the date we last verified it. Each compliance obligation links the primary sources it was checked against. Laws and deadlines change, so if you believe something here is outdated or incorrect, contact us at support@landautomate.com and we will review it promptly.

See this calendar built for your own property

The free preview takes your state and property facts and shows the schedule Landautomate would run for you, no account needed. Every new account starts with a 30-day free Pro trial, no card required.

Try the free preview Start free