Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued an Order on May 7, 2020 that remains in effect until July 10, 2020 that no eviction proceeding against a tenant under the Landlord Tenant Act may be commenced or continue if already filed until July 10, 2020 or further Order of the Governor.
In addition, all residential mortgage foreclosures are stayed until July 10, 2020 so they cannot be commenced and if they have started the mortgage foreclosure is stayed until July 10, 2020.
That means if you cannot pay your rent or you cannot pay your mortgage, your landlord or lender cannot do anything to evict you from the property until at least July 10, 2020.
Even after July 10, 2020, there is a good chance that your lender will be willing to enter into a mortgage modification agreement to help you stay in your home or you can defend the mortgage foreclosure by raising defenses such as the Doctrine of Frustration of Contractual Purpose or Impracticability of Performance. Another defense is discharge by supervening frustration. Another defense would be breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing if your lender fails to act reasonably in light of the circumstances. Force Majeure is a common clause in contracts that essentially freezes both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance occurs. All of these would be defenses to a mortgage foreclosure or action by your landlord to evict you.
All of these defenses are available and if none of them are successful, bankruptcy is always an option to help you stay in your home.
