Hello [landlord name]
I am writing because I believe I am being retaliated against for exercising my legal rights as a tenant. The reason for my concern is [describe instance of retaliation].
Meadville’s Residential Tenant Anti-retaliation ordinance makes clear that retaliation is prohibited. A landlord cannot increase rent, terminate tenancy, or alter the terms of a lease in retaliation for a renter exercising their legal right to request repairs, report safety issues, file complaints with the city, under, exercise lawful self-help measures such as the right to withhold rent or to make necessary repairs and deduct the cost of those repairs from the rent, testify at a public hearing, or organize with other tenants.
According to the ordinance, rent increases, eviction notices, refusing to renew a lease, or alter the terms of a lease are presumed to be retaliatory if they occur within one year of a renter exercising their rights as a tenant.
I demand that you refrain from any further acts of retaliation.
Yours,
[Name]
[Date]