Pennsylvania Practice TestProperty Management

Pennsylvania Property Management
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)

Property management questions on the Pennsylvania exam cover both the practical aspects of managing rental properties and the landlord-tenant law specific to Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission tests security deposit limits, required notice periods for entry and termination, habitability standards, and the property manager's fiduciary duties. Pennsylvania's landlord-tenant law has specific provisions — including notice requirements and tenant protections — that differ from what national study materials cover. These questions often involve scenarios where a property manager must navigate competing obligations to the owner-client and the tenant.

Practice Questions

Pennsylvania Property Management — Practice Questions & Answers

81 questions on Property Management from the Pennsylvania real estate question bank. First 10 are free — sign up to unlock all 81.

Q1. Under Pennsylvania's Landlord-Tenant Act, a landlord may deduct from a security deposit for:

A.Normal wear and tear from the tenant's use
B.Actual damages beyond normal wear and tear and unpaid rent
C.Any cleaning or maintenance needed after the tenancy
D.Cosmetic updates the landlord wants to make

Explanation

Pennsylvania landlords may deduct from the security deposit only for actual damages beyond normal wear and tear and for unpaid rent. Normal wear and tear (minor scuffs, gradual carpet wear) is the landlord's responsibility and cannot be charged to the tenant.

Q2. Pennsylvania law limits a residential security deposit to:

A.One month's rent for the entire tenancy
B.Two months' rent for the first year, and one month's rent after the second year and beyond
C.Three months' rent for any lease term
D.No limit — the landlord and tenant negotiate freely

Explanation

Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act limits residential security deposits to two months' rent during the first year of a tenancy and one month's rent from the second year forward. Excess deposits must be returned to the tenant.

Q3. A property manager who collects rents and manages residential properties for a fee must hold a Pennsylvania:

A.Property Management Specialist Certificate
B.Real estate broker's or salesperson's license
C.Building inspector's license
D.Contractor's license

Explanation

In Pennsylvania, property management activities that include leasing properties and collecting rents for compensation require a real estate license. Either a broker's or salesperson's license (working under a broker) is required.

Q4. A gross lease requires the:

A.Tenant to pay all property expenses including taxes, insurance, and maintenance
B.Landlord to pay most or all property expenses, while the tenant pays a fixed rent
C.Both parties to split all expenses equally
D.Tenant to pay rent plus a percentage of business revenue

Explanation

In a gross lease, the landlord pays most or all operating expenses (taxes, insurance, maintenance), and the tenant pays a fixed rent. This is common in residential leases. In a net lease, the tenant pays some or all expenses in addition to base rent.

Q5. A percentage lease is most commonly used in:

A.Residential apartment complexes
B.Retail commercial properties, where rent is based on a percentage of the tenant's sales
C.Office space lease agreements
D.Industrial warehouse properties

Explanation

A percentage lease is common in retail settings (shopping malls, strip centers). The tenant pays a base rent plus a percentage of gross sales above a specified breakpoint. This aligns the landlord's income with the tenant's business performance.

Q6. A property manager's primary fiduciary duty runs to:

A.The tenants residing in the property
B.The property owner (the principal)
C.The municipality in which the property is located
D.The lender holding the mortgage on the property

Explanation

A property manager acts as the agent of the property owner (principal). The property manager owes fiduciary duties — including loyalty, care, and accounting — to the owner, while also being required to deal honestly and fairly with tenants.

Q7. The term 'CAM charges' in a commercial lease refers to:

A.Commercial Appraisal Method charges
B.Common Area Maintenance charges that tenants contribute toward shared expenses
C.Capital Asset Management fees charged by the property manager
D.Certified Accounting Method charges for lease audits

Explanation

CAM charges are Common Area Maintenance charges in commercial leases. Tenants pay a proportionate share of the costs to maintain shared areas (lobbies, parking lots, landscaping, hallways). CAM reconciliations are performed annually.

Q8. In Pennsylvania, a landlord must return a residential security deposit within how many days of the tenancy ending?

A.15 days
B.30 days
C.45 days
D.60 days

Explanation

Pennsylvania law requires a landlord to return the security deposit (or provide an itemized list of deductions) within 30 days after the tenant vacates and provides a forwarding address. Failure to comply may result in the landlord losing the right to deduct damages.

Q9. Constructive eviction occurs when:

A.A landlord files eviction paperwork without a valid reason
B.A landlord's failure to maintain the property makes it uninhabitable, forcing the tenant to leave
C.A tenant abandons the property without notice
D.A court orders the tenant to vacate within 30 days

Explanation

Constructive eviction is when a landlord's actions or neglect (failure to provide heat, water, or maintain safe conditions) renders the property uninhabitable, effectively forcing the tenant to vacate. The tenant may have a cause of action for breach of the implied warranty of habitability.

Q10. A 'triple net lease' (NNN) requires the tenant to pay:

A.Base rent only, with the landlord paying all expenses
B.Base rent plus property taxes, insurance, and maintenance expenses
C.Base rent plus a percentage of gross sales
D.Three times the market rent rate

Explanation

In a triple net lease (NNN), the tenant pays base rent plus the three 'nets': property taxes, building insurance, and maintenance/operating expenses. This shifts most financial risk from the landlord to the tenant and is common in commercial leases.

Q11. A Pennsylvania property manager who holds security deposits must maintain them in:

A.A personal savings account
B.A separate escrow account
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