Property Conservatorship

Conservatorship for Blighted and Abandoned Properties in
Pennsylvania - Act 135
Blighted and abandoned property conservatorship is a court-supervised legal process under Pennsylvania Act 135 that allows qualified parties to take control of neglected real estate, remediate dangerous conditions, and return properties to productive use. Sommer Law Group represents clients in Act 135 conservatorship proceedings throughout Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Reading, Scranton, Harrisburg, and surrounding counties.

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Pennsylvania’s Real Estate Conservatorship (Act 135)

In Pennsylvania, real estate conservatorship, governed by the Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act 135 of 2008, allows a court to appoint a conservator to take control of a property that is legally determined to be both abandoned and blighted.


Unlike personal conservatorships (which manage finances for incapacitated individuals), Act 135 conservatorships specifically target real property issues like vacant homes, commercial buildings, or industrial sites.


Through a court-supervised process in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, the conservator may be authorized to:

● Make necessary repairs and bring the property into code compliance

● Manage the property

● Ultimately rehabilitate and sell it (with court approval)


Act 135 conservatorships can help eliminate eyesores, address safety hazards and code violations, reduce crime, improve property values, and return neglected properties to productive use.

Who Can Benefit from our Act 135 Services?

We represent:

● Nonprofit organizations and community development groups seeking to revitalize neighborhoods

● Neighbors and nearby business owners frustrated by blighted properties nearby

● Municipalities and redevelopment authorities addressing widespread blight

● Property owners defending against conservatorship petitions or navigating related disputes

● Potential conservators needing guidance on petitions, rehabilitation plans, court approvals, and sales

Areas of Work

● Petition Preparation and Filing — We evaluate eligibility, gather evidence (photos, code violations, ownership records), and file comprehensive petitions in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.

● Court Representation — Advocacy at hearings to ensure conservator appointment, defend against objections, or oppose improper petitions.

● Rehabilitation and Management Oversight — Guidance on developing and implementing realistic improvement plans, securing permits, and managing finances during conservatorship.

● Property Sale & Disposition — Court-approved sales processes, ensuring fair outcomes and recovery of costs/fees.

● Defense for Property Owners — Protecting ownership rights when facing a conservatorship action, including negotiating resolutions or challenging petitions.

● Related Real Estate Litigation — Handling disputes involving liens, code enforcement, zoning, or title issues related to blighted properties.

Overview of the Process 
1. Determine Eligibility: The property must meet statutory criteria under Act 135.
2. File & Serve the Petition: A qualified petitioner, represented by an attorney, files and serves a conservatorship petition in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.
3. Court hearing: The court reviews the evidence and hears any objections. If statutory requirements are met, the judge may appoint a conservator.
4. Rehabilitation and Management: The conservator takes control of the property, secures it, performs necessary repairs, and brings it into code compliance under court supervision.
5. Sale & Final Distribution: Once rehabilitated, the property may be sold (often through a court-approved sale). Proceeds are distributed according to statutory priority and court order.

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