Section 511.1 limits residential escrow during the first year.
Section 511.1 reduces the permitted required escrow after year one.
Section 512 uses termination or surrender-and-acceptance language.
Failure to provide a new address in writing relieves the landlord from Section 512 liability.
Documents to preserve
- Lease start date and renewal history.
- Amount originally deposited and any later refund/reduction of escrow.
- Written forwarding/new-address notice.
- Move-out or surrender records.
- Written damage list, refund check and any interest accounting.
Local rules may add another layer
Philadelphia and other Pennsylvania municipalities can add renter protections. These pages summarize the statewide Landlord and Tenant Act and do not replace a local-law check.
Official sources
Official current text containing sections 511.1, 511.2, 511.3 and 512.
Pennsylvania General AssemblySection 511.1–511.2 — escrow limits and interest ↗Primary law for first-year and later-year deposit limits, escrow notice and interest after the second anniversary.
Pennsylvania General AssemblySection 512 — recovery of improperly held escrow funds ↗Primary law for the 30-day damage list/refund framework, written new-address rule and statutory remedies.