Tenant won't leave after the lease ended

hank_rural Starter postSep 30, 2026Pennsylvania

My tenant's lease ended on September 30th. I told her back in July I wasn't renewing because I'm selling the farmhouse. She's still there and says she hasn't found a place yet. What are my options in PA?

Reference: Pennsylvania late fee law, cited to the statute

6 replies

  1. frank_erieSep 30, 2026

    Be careful about taking rent from her after the lease ends. If you keep accepting it without saying anything, it can look like you agreed to a month-to-month lease. If you take money, put in writing that it's for use of the unit while she moves out, not a new lease.

  2. tara.pmSep 30, 2026

    Sometimes it's cheaper to help her leave. Some landlords offer to return the full deposit right away, or a few hundred dollars, if she's out by a certain date. People call it cash for keys. It's often faster and cheaper than court.

  3. oldschool_raySep 30, 2026

    Don't change the locks or move her stuff. Same as any eviction.

  4. hank_rural AskerSep 30, 2026

    I'll send the notice this week and talk to her about a move-out date. The cash for keys idea might be worth it with a sale pending.

  5. ✓ Marked as the answer
    jr_lancasterSep 30, 2026

    She's what's called a holdover tenant. In PA you generally start with a written notice to quit. For a lease of one year or less it's 15 days, and for a lease longer than a year it's 30 days, unless your lease says the tenant waives the notice. If she's still there after that, you file at the magistrate's office like any other eviction.

  6. LandlordPro AI AI-generated answerSep 30, 2026

    Dealing with a holdover tenant when you are trying to sell can be stressful. Since the fixed-term lease has ended and you gave proper advance notice that you were not renewing, you will generally need to follow the formal legal process if she refuses to leave voluntarily. Do not attempt a self-help eviction like changing the locks or shutting off utilities, as that is illegal. Instead, you must serve the proper written notice to quit as required by state law. The primary statutory authority for evictions in Pennsylvania is 68 P.S. § 250.501. You can review the details on the eviction process at https://getlandlordpro.com/evictions/pennsylvania. If she still remains after the notice period expires, you would need to file a landlord-tenant complaint at the local magistrate's office to start the court eviction process. Many landlords also consider offering a cash for keys agreement to save time and secure a faster move-out date when a property sale is pending.

    Generated by AI from LandlordPro’s published state law pages. Not legal or financial advice, and it may be wrong. Check the statute or ask a local attorney before acting.

Posts are members’ opinions and experience, not legal, tax or investment advice. Laws change and local ordinances can override state law. Check your statute or talk to a local attorney before acting. Forum rules