Legal Consequences of Violating a Lease

If you vacate your apartment and stop paying rent, your landlord may sue you and your guarantor in civil court. Unless you have a credible defense, the court will likely enter judgment in the landlord’s favor, ordering you to pay all rent due under the lease, late fees, and court costs. There are several ways a landlord can try to force you to pay a judgment. An attorney can help you understand the civil court process and potential consequences of failing to pay a judgment.

Among other possible remedies, landlords in Pennsylvania are permitted to garnish wages to collect a civil judgment for unpaid rent.

If you fail to pay your rent or other fees owing under the lease, your landlord may turn the account over to a collection agency. The collection account may be reported as a separate account on your credit report. An unpaid collection account will significantly impact your credit score, making it difficult for you to obtain credit, loans, or even housing in the future. If you have a guarantor on your lease, the collection account will likely appear on your guarantor’s credit report as well.

Your landlord may file to evict you if you violate a provision in the lease, do not pay your rent, or fail to move out when your lease term has ended. Landlords must follow the court’s eviction process; they may not lockout or throw out a tenant without a court order. In addition to evicting you, the court may also enter a civil judgment against you for unpaid rent or other damages. If an eviction complaint is filed against you, you should seek legal assistance immediately.