Does a Landlord Have to Give a Tenant a Written Lease?

Full question:

I need help on Landlord/Tenant law. I have a landlord who doesn't believe in the law. What can I do about a person who is ignorant of the law and who says he doesn't have to have a written contract after 8 years of renting to me. He also says he can make me work for him without compensation and he has raised the rent whenever he feels like it. The law says he can't and it can't be punitive. Does anyone agree?

• Category: Landlord Tenant
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Pennsylvania

Answer:

A landlord is allowed to rent without a written lease if the term is considered month-to-month. A tenant without a written lease is generally considered a month-to-month tenant at will and at the end of the month, the landlord can raise the rent for the next month’s term.

Involuntary servitude is defined at 8 C.F.R. 4 214.1 l(a): Involuntary servitude means a condition of servitude induced by means of any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that, if the person did not enter into or continue in such condition, that person or another person would suffer serious harm or physical restraint; or the abuse or threatened abuse of legal process. Accordingly, involuntary servitude includes a condition of servitude in which the victim is forced to work for the defendant by the use or threat of physical restraint or physical injury, or by the use or threat of coercion through law or the legal process. This definition encompasses those cases in which the defendant holds the victim in servitude by placing the victim in fear of such physical restraint or injury or legal coercion.

Peonage is defined at 8 C.F.R. 5 214.1 l(a) as "[a] status or condition of involuntary servitude based upon real or alleged indebtedness."

Please see the following PA statute:

33 P. S. § 1. Parol leases, etc.; estates in lands not to be assigned,
etc., except by writing

From and after April 10, 1772, all leases, estates, interests of
freehold or term of years, or any uncertain interest of, in, or out of
any messuages, manors, lands, tenements or hereditaments, made or created
by livery and seisin only, or by parol, and not put in writing, and
signed by the parties so making or creating the same, or their agents,
thereunto lawfully authorized by writing, shall have the force and effect
of leases or estates at will only, and shall not, either in law or
equity, be deemed or taken to have any other or greater force or effect,
any consideration for making any such parol leases or estates, or any
former law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding; except,
nevertheless, all leases not exceeding the term of three years from the
making thereof; and moreover, that no leases, estates or interests,
either of freehold or terms of years, or any uncertain interest, of, in,
to or out of any messuages, manors, lands, tenements or hereditaments,
shall, at any time after the said April 10, 1772, be assigned, granted or
surrendered, unless it be by deed or note, in writing, signed by the
party so assigning, granting or surrendering the same, or their agents,
thereto lawfully authorized by writing, or by act and operation of law.