Garnishment of wages is very limited in Pennsylvania. However, wage garnishment is permitted when enforcing debts which arise as a result of a residential lease. Although there are numerous requirements which need to be followed in order for a landlord to actually garnish a tenant’s wages, once the procedural steps have been implemented, the landlord receives monthly checks from the employer that are processed through the County Court of Common Pleas.

Although the ability to garnish wages is very limited, this restriction actually serves as an advantage to landlords. Because few creditors have the ability to take action against the wages earned by the tenant, the landlord often has no competition from other creditors who are  also owed money from the tenant. Tenants must meet or exceed certain income requirements in order for their wages to be garnished. The amount of the income requirement is set by law and varies based upon the number of individuals living in the tenant’s household. However, these income requirements are low enough to allow most landlords to proceed against tenants who are employed.

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