Apartment fire causing tenant to leave

[Joe Carlile]

My tenant caused a fire in a four unit apartment. The fire has made his unit uninhabitable, and will take me a month or so to fix.

He was only on a month to month lease and is not trying to move back in when it is fixed. He already paid for the month of March and is now asking for his money back. Am I in any legal obligation to give him back his money? Or do I need to find somewhere for him to live?

Also, if he decides after I get it fixed that he is going to move back in do I need to evict him?

Any help is appreciated.

[Gregory H.]

If you use a standard PA association of realtors lease, sections 17-20 will be what you're looking at ... covers it pretty well. If you use your own lease, and it doesn't mention what happens in case of fire/destruction of property ... you're heading to an attorney's office to help you out