Home Ownership
Legal Information > Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Home Ownership issues in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Tangled Title
A tangled title exists when the current occupant of the house is not on the deed, but believes themselves to be the owner. Learn about other indicators of a tangled title and why the title issue should be fixed.
Save Your Home Philly Hotline
For help with home mortgages, sheriff sales, tangled titles, or mediation scheduled through the Eviction Diversion program call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline at 215-334-HOME (4663) between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Outside of these hours, callers can leave a message and get a call back from a housing advocate. The Hotline provides advice, brief service, and connects thousands of callers to housing counselors each year. More information at the link.
Save Your Home Philly Hotline
For help with home mortgages, sheriff sales, tangled titles, or mediation scheduled through the Eviction Diversion program call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline at 215-334-HOME (4663) between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Outside of these hours, callers can leave a message and get a call back from a housing advocate. The Hotline provides advice, brief service, and connects thousands of callers to housing counselors each year. More information at the link.
Avoiding Predatory Lending Practices (Video)
Three-part video series from Northwestern Legal Services' "Access to Justice" cable access television show broadcast on Erie Cablevision (Channel 2) in Erie, PA. Avoiding Predatory Lending Practices in Pennsylvania, with Dave Pesch, Housing Counseling Programs Manager at St. Martin's Center in Erie, PA and Maggie Schuetz, Staff Attorney with Community Justice Project, Pittsburgh, PA. Recorded February 14, 2008.
Coronavirus: Protections for Homeowners
Information on protections for all homeowners in Pennsylvania affected by COVID-19 from Regional Housing Legal Services.
How to Keep Someone off Your Property
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network about keeping people off your property and the law relating to defiant trespass.
Information for Philadelphia Homeowners during the Coronavirus Pandemic
Resources and information for homeowners in Philadelphia.
Need help paying your property taxes in Philadelphia? Consider a Current Year Installment Plan! (Video)
Video from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia explaining program from the City of Philadelphia that lets you pay your annual property tax bill in affordable monthly payments, and any interest or penalties on the taxes will be forgiven by the City if you complete your payment plan on time.
Philadelphia Property Taxes: Frequently Asked Questions
Information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia on issues related to Philadelphia Real Estate Taxes. [PDF]
Resolving Tangled Title Issues
You may have a tangled title if you live in a house that you think you own and take care of, because you inherited it, but your name is not on the deed. It may also occur if you got the home are under a "rent-to-own" or "land contract" arrangement, or in some other way, and the deed is not in your name. Community Legal Services of Philadelphia offers information on how to deal with these issues that apply to situations both in Philadelphia and in other communities.
Save Your Home Philly Hotline
For help with home mortgages, sheriff sales, tangled titles, or mediation scheduled through the Eviction Diversion program call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline at 215-334-HOME (4663) between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Outside of these hours, callers can leave a message and get a call back from a housing advocate. The Hotline provides advice, brief service, and connects thousands of callers to housing counselors each year. More information at the link.
Tangled Title
A tangled title exists when the current occupant of the house is not on the deed, but believes themselves to be the owner. Learn about other indicators of a tangled title and why the title issue should be fixed.
The Dangers of Rent-to-Own Agreements (Video)
This video from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia explains some potential problems that may present themselves in a Rent-to-Own arrangement to purchase a house, whereby you live in the house as a tenant, pay rent each month, and have the rent count toward the purchase of the property.
The Philadelphia Property Tax Handbook
This manual from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia is designed to guide Philadelphians, including taxpayers, tax professionals, and non-profit agencies, about the various tax relief programs that are available to help those who are struggling to pay their property taxes. It compiles the applications, instructions, and statutory provisions for each of these programs and provides a user-friendly summary of the most essential information.
Resolving Tangled Title Issues
You may have a tangled title if you live in a house that you think you own and take care of, because you inherited it, but your name is not on the deed. It may also occur if you got the home are under a "rent-to-own" or "land contract" arrangement, or in some other way, and the deed is not in your name. Community Legal Services of Philadelphia offers information on how to deal with these issues that apply to situations both in Philadelphia and in other communities.
The Philadelphia Property Tax Handbook
This manual from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia is designed to guide Philadelphians, including taxpayers, tax professionals, and non-profit agencies, about the various tax relief programs that are available to help those who are struggling to pay their property taxes. It compiles the applications, instructions, and statutory provisions for each of these programs and provides a user-friendly summary of the most essential information.