Cal. Civ. Code § 250.311
Damages for Removal of Property Distrained On
Operative Text
Any landlord having distrained upon personal property for rent due who is aggrieved by the unlawful removal thereof shall, in an action of trespass, recover treble damages, together with the costs of suit, against the offender or against the owner, if it be afterwards found that the personal property has come into his use or possession.
Under 68 P.S. § 250.311, when a landlord has legally seized a tenant's personal property as security for unpaid rent (a process called distraint) and that property is then unlawfully removed or taken away, the law provides a remedy through a trespass action. A court may award the landlord three times the actual damages suffered, plus the costs of bringing the lawsuit. Liability can extend not only to the person who physically removed the property but also to any owner who later comes into possession or use of it.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 68 P.S. § 250.311, landlords who have properly executed a distraint on personal property for overdue rent have a legal avenue if that property is unlawfully taken away. A compliant operator typically documents the distrained property thoroughly—recording its condition, location, and estimated value—so that a treble-damages claim in trespass can be substantiated if removal occurs. Operators generally work with legal counsel familiar with Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law to ensure the underlying distraint was conducted lawfully, since the remedy under this section depends on the validity of the original seizure.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 68 P.S. § 250.311, tenants and third parties should be aware that removing property that has been lawfully distrained by a landlord for unpaid rent can expose the person who removed it—or anyone who later possesses or uses it—to a lawsuit for three times the value of the property plus court costs. If you believe a landlord's distraint was itself unlawful or improperly executed, that may be relevant to any trespass action brought under this section, and tenant-rights organizations in Pennsylvania can help explain the procedural requirements that govern distraint. Consulting a licensed Pennsylvania attorney or a local legal aid organization is one way to understand how this provision might apply to a particular set of facts.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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