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Monday, October 14, 2024
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ADVOCATING ON YOUR BEHALF

What We Do

Pennsylvania has more than 1,700 self storage facilities, serving a statewide population of 12,807,060 (2018). The Pennsylvania Self Storage Association has helped spearhead several changes to lien laws in the Keystone State but some priorities remain.

The PASSA is ever vigilant in protecting the industry from unnecessary laws or regulations. If you have questions or concerns regarding the industry’s relationship with the government, please feel free to contact us.

Legislative Update -  January 2023

Pennsylvania Lien Law Updated

SSA-backed Pennsylvania HB 1103 took effect on January 3, 2023. The bill amends the lien law in several ways. First, the bill expressly states that an owner may charge the occupant a reasonable late fee for each month the occupant fails to pay rent or other charges within five (5) days of the due date. The bill further provides that a late fee of $20 per month or 20% of the monthly rent for the leased space, whichever is greater, is deemed reasonable and does not constitute a penalty. Finally, to lawfully impose the fee, an owner must disclose in the rental agreement the amount of the fee and the timing for charging the fee.

The bill provides much needed flexibility to owners when advertising lien sales. Once effective, Pennsylvania operators are only required to publish the sale once in a newspaper of general circulation. The amendment allows the second advertisement to be published on a publicly accessible Internet website that regularly advertises or conducts online sales of personal property. This results in a 50 percent reduction in advertising expenses.

The bill also amends the lien law to provide an owner’s right to tow trailers after the occupant is in default for a continuous 60-day period. Existing law permits towing of motor vehicles and watercraft. Finally, the bill expressly permits owners to conduct lien sales online as opposed to exclusively in-person at the facility.

The updated annotated Pennsylvania Lien Law Book that explains all of the new amendments and provides recommendations for implementation is available on the SSA’s website.  

 
 

 

 

Certified Mail

This effort seeks to eliminate the requirement to send lien notifications via certified mail, as opposed to "verified mail."

Newspaper Advertising

This effort seeks to eliminate or modify the requirement to publish auction notices "in a newspaper of general circulation," as opposed to simply posting online.

Vehicles & Watercraft

This effort would allow the operator to dispose of abandoned vehicles and watercraft more expeditiously.

Email Notifications

This effort seeks to provide operators with the ability to email lien notifications and other official communications.

Contractual Value Limitations

Provides basic limits of the amount or value of contents in a storage container.

Late Fee Standardization

An industry-wide effort to standardize late fees in the amount of $20 or 20 percent, whichever is greater.

Limited Lines Insurance

This effort would allow and regulate the sale of limited lines insurance.

Building Codes

Monitoring and/or amending reasonable building code requirements for the industry.

Online Auctions

This effort provides operators with the ability to hold auctions online as opposed to at your facility.
THE PENNSYLVANIA LIEN LAW

View the PA lien Law HERE

Reach Out

Please reach out to us if you have an issue or want to notify us about an issue within the self storage community.

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