The Complete Guide to
Renting in Philadelphia — 2026

You'll typically need first month's rent, last month's rent (sometimes), and security deposit (max 2 months first year, 1 month after). Most landlords require income of 2.5-3x monthly rent. For a $1,500/month apartment, expect $3,000-4,500 upfront and annual income of $45,000-54,000.

No, Philadelphia does not have rent control. Pennsylvania state law preempts municipalities from enacting rent control ordinances. However, Philadelphia has strong Fair Housing protections and requires landlords to have rental licenses.

You can check building violations for free on StreetSmart by searching any Philadelphia address. We show the complete violation history from L&I (Licenses & Inspections), property information, and building quality scores. You can also check the City of Philadelphia's L&I portal directly.

Philadelphia tenants have protections under Pennsylvania's Landlord Tenant Act and Philadelphia's Fair Housing Ordinance including: the right to livable conditions, security deposit limits, protection from discrimination, and required rental licensing. Landlords must maintain heat, hot water, and safe conditions.

Under Pennsylvania law, landlords can charge up to 2 months' rent as security deposit for the first year of tenancy, and 1 month's rent for subsequent years. The deposit must be returned within 30 days of move-out, with an itemized list of any deductions.