Landlord/Tenant Laws Pa

[John Taylor]

Hi, My name is J.T. My Landlord asked me for $2100 as a security deposit but I was told he could only @ max ask for two months rent which is $700. Before I moved in I was told our ceiling would be fixed and the basement cleared out of his belongings. *My question is this. By law is he allowed to ask for more than two months rent. Also should I pay rent when my ceiling has not been repaired.

Thank you for your time
J.T. Taylor

[rmurray]

Laws vary from state to state...Deposits are often negotiated between the parties in the lease...You might want to check with the laws in your state...

Most states allow the tenant to do an initial walk through and note all defects in the property when you move in..This is mostly to keep the landlord from charging you for things that were already damaged when you moved in...

Most likely you would be required to pay the rent..even if the ceiling is not repaired...expecially if it was this way when you moved in...Some states do allow the escrow of rent in a third party's account for items that make the home unlivable...but again..every state has different tenant laws...