5 months behind on rent with an eviction notice (PA)

[nancy8615]

hi, my daughter, husband and 2 kids are living in an apartment, times got hard, his hours were cut at work, they fell behind on their rent, at 1 month they went to the welfare office to get help, they were told there that they cant get help until they get an eviction notice, well now they are 5 months behind with the eviction notice and cant find help, the landlord typed an eviction notice, stating they have to be out in 15 days, the 15 days is up this Sunday, they have no where to go, no help, do they have any options? the landlord said he is turning the water off this Sunday at 1pm, can he do this if they are paying the water bill? what steps does the landlord take and what right do the tenants have? any help you can give me here i would appreciate. this is in PA.i need to know tenant, landlord rights

[sunlover]

Laws vary by state and you did not name yours. No the water cannot be shut off and unless Landlord has gone to court and got an eviction order they cannot be forced out

[nancy8615]

the state is pennsylvania.also if a person is evicted and can not take all their belongings at that time,can the landlord dispose of them or does he have to give you a certain amount of time to get them?

[sunlover]

The Marshalls toss the stuff on the street

[nancy8615]

now when you say the marshalls toss the stuff is that after a court hearing for the eviction or the typed letter the landlord typed stating to be out in 15 days?

[sunlover]

After court approved eviction

Was this Pay or Quit notice giving them 10 days -not counting weekends or holidays that would be 15 days at this time (2 weekends and one holiday) or was this a termination notice to move out in 15 days? Either way, if they don't move out, he can't turn off the water and must go to court and file for an eviction. They will be notified of the hearing date. At that time the judge will give them a couple of days to be out. If they still don't leave, the LL goes and gets the sheriff, marshall, or a court bailiff (whichever applies in your area) to do the set out of their belongings in the street.

I'm sorry they are having such a hard time. But it would be better if they moved out before he filed with the court. Once he does that, there will be a court record in their names.