Abandoned tenant property in Pennsylvania: the 505.1 notice, 10 days and 30 days

When is property "abandoned" in Pennsylvania?

Section 505.1(a) says that when a lease ends or possession is relinquished, the tenant must remove all personal property, and abandoned property may be disposed of at the landlord's discretion, subject to the rest of the section. Subsection (b) then lists when property may be deemed abandoned. Any one of these is enough.

• The tenant vacated after the termination of a written lease.
• An eviction order or order for possession in the landlord's favor was entered, and the tenant vacated and removed substantially all personal property.
• An eviction order or order for possession in the landlord's favor has been executed.
• The tenant gave the landlord written notice of a forwarding address, vacated and removed substantially all personal property.
• The tenant vacated without communicating an intent to return, the rent is more than fifteen days past due and, after those events, the landlord posted notice of the tenant's rights regarding the property.

Subsection (f) adds a hard stop. Under no circumstances may a landlord dispose of or control personal property remaining on inhabited premises without the express permission of the tenant. If the conditions for abandonment no longer exist, the landlord has no right to dispose of the property.

What written notice is required first?

Subsection (d) says that before removing or disposing of abandoned property, the landlord must give written notice of the tenant's rights regarding it. The tenant has ten days from the postmark date of the notice to retrieve the property or to ask that it be stored for an additional period not exceeding thirty days from the date of the notice. If the tenant asks, the landlord must keep or store the property for up to thirty days from the date of the notice, at a place of the landlord's choosing, and the tenant pays the storage costs. The landlord must use ordinary care in handling and securing the property and must make it reasonably available for retrieval.

Subsection (e) says the notice goes by first class mail to the tenant at the address of the leased premises and to any forwarding address the tenant gave, including an address given for emergency purposes. It sets the form in substantially these words: personal property at the address is now considered abandoned; within ten days of the postmark date the tenant must retrieve what they want or contact the landlord at a stated telephone number and address to ask that it be retained or stored; if asked, storage is provided for up to thirty days from the postmark date at a place of the landlord's choosing, at the tenant's cost.

Example a made-up landlord mails the notice on Monday, November 2, 2026. The tenant has ten days from the postmark date, through Thursday, November 12, to pick up items or ask for storage. If the tenant asks for storage, the landlord keeps the property through Wednesday, December 2, 2026, thirty days from the date of the notice. If the tenant does neither, the landlord may dispose of it after November 12.

Special cases that change the timeline

If the tenant has died, subsection (c) says the section does not apply. Property of a decedent is governed by the Pennsylvania estates law instead. See Pennsylvania tenant death and lease termination.

If a landlord proceeds on an executed eviction order and has actual knowledge or notice of a protection from abuse order for the tenant or the tenant's immediate family, subsection (h) says the landlord must refrain from disposing of or controlling the tenant's personal property for thirty days from the date of the notice, and must provide storage for up to thirty days from the date of the request if asked.

Subsection (g) says that if the section conflicts with the terms of a written lease, the lease controls, except for subsection (h). Check your lease, since a lease provision on abandoned property may change the process.

What does getting it wrong cost?

Subsection (i) is short and severe: a landlord that violates the section is subject to treble damages, reasonable attorney fees and court costs. That makes a photographed, dated inventory and a mailing receipt worth the few minutes they take. A few steps keep you safe.

1. Confirm one of the abandonment conditions in subsection (b) and write down which one.
2. Photograph the unit and the items left, with a dated list.
3. Mail the notice by first class mail to the unit and any forwarding address, and keep proof of the postmark.
4. Hold the property through the ten days, and through thirty days if the tenant asks for storage.
5. Dispose of anything left only after those windows, with ordinary care.
6. Handle the deposit on its own timeline. See Pennsylvania security deposit laws.

Where does DoorKeeping fit?

DoorKeeping stores the lease, the rent ledger, work orders and a copy of every notice you send, so the dates are on file if a court or a tenant asks. You still write, serve and track the notice yourself, and anything with a legal step waits for your one-tap approval. This is general information, not legal advice: check the current statute, and ask a local attorney if the tenant disputes what you did.

Sources

1. Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, Section 505.1, Disposition of Abandoned Personal Property (Pennsylvania General Assembly), read Oct 31, 2026

Questions

How long must a Pennsylvania landlord hold abandoned property?

The tenant has ten days from the postmark date of the notice to retrieve it, or can ask for storage for up to thirty days from the date of the notice (505.1(d)).

How is the Pennsylvania abandoned property notice sent?

By first class mail to the leased premises and to any forwarding address the tenant gave (505.1(e)).

What is the penalty for disposing of property wrongly in Pennsylvania?

Treble damages, reasonable attorney fees and court costs under 505.1(i).