Cal. Civ. Code § 20.4
Responsibility of the tenant
Operative Text
The tenant or other lessee of a tenement house shall keep in a clean condition,
free from any accumulation of dirt, garbage or refuse matter, the portion of the
tenement house occupied or used exclusively by the tenant or other lessee.
20-2
(216906) No. 262 Sep. 96 Copyright 娀 2096 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Ch. 20 TENEMENT, LODGING, BOARDING 28 § 20.11
WATER SUPPLYUnder 28 Pa. Code § 20.4, tenants and lessees of tenement houses bear responsibility for maintaining the cleanliness of the areas they exclusively occupy or use. Specifically, those spaces must be kept free of accumulated dirt, garbage, and refuse. The rule draws a clear line between shared common areas and the portions of the building that are under a particular tenant's exclusive control.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers of tenement houses covered by 28 Pa. Code § 20.4 generally document the condition of each unit at move-in and move-out to establish a baseline for cleanliness. While this provision places the sanitation obligation for exclusively occupied spaces on the tenant, compliant operators typically maintain records and conduct periodic inspections to confirm that refuse and garbage are not accumulating in ways that could affect the broader building. Understanding where tenant responsibility ends and landlord responsibility begins helps operators address sanitation issues appropriately.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 28 Pa. Code § 20.4, tenants in tenement houses have a legal obligation to keep the portions of the property they exclusively occupy or use free from dirt, garbage, and refuse accumulation. Failure to meet this standard could be raised as a relevant factor in disputes involving habitability, lease compliance, or security deposit deductions. Tenants who have questions about how this provision interacts with their lease or local housing codes may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Pennsylvania housing law.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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