Landlord-Tenant Complaint – Massachusetts Courts

The Landlord-Tenant Complaint form is a legal document used in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for filing a complaint by a landlord against a tenant. The Landlord-Tenant Complaint is used to request judgment for possession of real property, recover costs, and claim unpaid rent or damages. This form ensures that all necessary details are captured for legal proceedings related to landlord-tenant disputes in Pennsylvania.

Filling out this form correctly is crucial for ensuring that your complaint is processed without delays. Below are step-by-step instructions on how to complete each section of the form.

Header Information

• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: This is pre-filled.
• County: Enter the county where the property is located.
• Magisterial District Number: Find and enter the Magisterial District Number relevant to your property.
• Magisterial District Judge (MDJ) Name: Enter the name of the MDJ for your district.
• MDJ Address and Telephone: Enter the address and telephone number of the MDJ’s office.

Parties Involved

• Tenant
  • Name and Address: Enter the full name and address of the tenant(s) against whom you are filing the complaint.
• Landlord
  • Name and Address: Enter your full name and address as the landlord.

Case Details

• Docket Number: Leave this blank; it will be assigned by the court.
• Date Case Filed: Leave this blank; it will be filled in by the court.

Costs

• Filing Costs: Enter the filing costs, if known. Otherwise, leave blank for the court to fill.
• Postage: Enter postage costs, if applicable.
• Service Costs: Enter the service costs for delivering the complaint to the tenant.
• Constable/Ed Costs: Enter any additional costs related to constable services.
• Total Costs: Sum all the costs entered above.

Complaint Content

• Judgment Request
  • State that you are requesting judgment for possession of the property and associated costs against the tenant.
• Damages
  • Enter the amount of damages you are claiming for the unjust detention of the property.
• Unpaid Rent
  • Enter the amount of rent that remains due and unpaid as of the filing date.
  • Enter any additional rent that will be due by the hearing date.
• Attorney Fees
  • Enter any attorney fees you are claiming.

Property and Lease Details

• Property Location: Enter the full address of the property in question.
• Lease Information:
  • Confirm you are the landlord of the property.
  • Enter the name of the person to whom you leased the property, if applicable.
  • Specify whether notice to quit was given or if it is not required under the lease terms.
  • State whether the lease term has ended or if a breach of lease conditions has occurred. Describe the breach if applicable.
  • Monthly Rent and Security Deposit: Enter the monthly rent amount and any security deposit held.
  • Abandonment: Check the box if you believe the property has been abandoned and submit Form MDJS 334 with the complaint.
  • Damages for Injury to Property: If applicable, describe any damages to the property and the amount claimed.

Verification

• Verification Statement
  • Print your name and sign the form to verify the facts of the complaint. This is done under penalty of perjury.
  • Ensure you are truthful and accurate as false statements can lead to legal consequences.

Instructions to the Tenant

• Defense and Claims
  • Inform the tenant that they can present a defense or file a claim at the hearing.
  • Provide details about the consequences of not appearing at the hearing, including possible eviction.
• Hearing Information
  • Include information on how tenants can request reasonable accommodations if they are disabled.

Additional Information

• AOPC 310A and Website
  • This section is pre-filled and includes a link to the Pennsylvania Courts’ language rights page.

Final Steps

• Review: Double-check all information for accuracy.
• Submit: File the completed form at the Magisterial District Court.
• Fees: Be prepared to pay any filing fees required by the court.

By following these steps carefully, you can ensure your Landlord-Tenant Complaint form is filled out correctly and ready for submission to the court.