Abington, PA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Abington Township adopted the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) 2021 as its housing standards under Chapter 98, then amended specific sections for local conditions. Section 602.3, as amended, requires every owner who rents, leases or lets a dwelling or sleeping unit to supply heat during the October 15 to May 15 season, maintaining at least 68°F in habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms. Two exceptions apply: when outdoor temperature falls below the winter design temperature in IPMC Appendix D and the heating system is running at full capacity, the minimum need not be met, and where the average monthly outdoor temperature exceeds 30°F, only 65°F is required.

Section 602.4 imposes a parallel 65°F minimum on occupiable work spaces during the same heating season, with exceptions for processing areas needing special temperatures and spaces used for vigorous physical activity. Two safety mandates were added specifically for rentals: § 704.9 requires smoke alarms installed and maintained per IPMC §§ 704.6.1.1 through 704.7 in every rental living unit, and § 705.1.1 requires carbon monoxide alarms and detection systems in every rental living unit, regardless of fuel-burning appliances. A related but separate mandate, § 704.8, phases in portable fire extinguishers (minimum rating 1-A:10-B:C) in every dwelling unit, with multifamily buildings required to reach 25% compliance by the end of 2023, 50% by the end of 2024, 75% by the end of 2025 and 100% by December 2026. The Code Enforcement Division of the Township of Abington, designated under the § 98-2 amendment to IPMC § 103.1, administers and enforces these standards.