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DEPARTMENT OF LICENSES AND INSPECTIONS RECOMMENCES ISSUING CERTIFICATES OF RENTAL SUITABILITY
City of Philadelphia
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSES AND INSPECTIONS
Friday, October 14, 2011
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSES AND INSPECTIONS RECOMMENCES ISSUING CERTIFICATES OF RENTAL SUITABILITY
Agreement between Rental Owners, Tenants Organization, and City Allow 2006 Ordinance Governing the Condition of Rental Properties to Take Effect
Philadelphia, October 14, 2011 –The Department of Licenses and Inspections, the Homeowners Association of Philadelphia (HAPCO), and Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN) reached an agreement regarding the legality of the “certificate of rental suitability” which is the new, free certification that property owners need to obtain before changing tenants. If the property owner has any open violations with the Department that are not actively under appeal to the courts, the Department will not issue the certificate of rental suitability for the property, delaying occupancy until the issue has been resolved.
In order to obtain the Certificate, the owner will be required to confirm that
· the owner has a current annual Housing Inspection license;
· the property is fit for human habitation;
· fire/smoke detection equipment for the premises is in proper operating condition;
· the property will be maintained during the term of the lease in a condition fit for human habitation, and that fire/smoke detection equipment will be maintained as otherwise required by existing law.
“This free certificate of rental suitability is a win for both Philadelphia tenants and property owners,” said Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections Fran Burns, “It gives tenants the ability to make sure that their potential residence does not have open violations of the Philadelphia Code on the record without putting extra burdens on property owners.”
"TURN is grateful for the cooperation of all involved in restoring this important legislation. We are confident that it will not only improve the quality of the city’s housing stock but, even more importantly, it will save lives as well,” said Phil Lord, Executive Director of TURN.
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“By requiring properties to be habitable before they are rented and by focusing particularly on fire safety compliance, this law will make Philadelphia a better place to live for all it residents.”
“It’s nice when rental property owners, government and tenant groups can sit down and work together; even though it took court action to make it happen. HAPCO is a firm believer that if we are consulted at the onset of proposed legislation concerning rental housing we can pass laws that will be productive in protecting the citizens of our great city instead of legislation that is of the “throwing the baby out with the bath water” variety,” said HAPCO President Victor H. Pinckney, Sr. “The Rental Suitability bill is a shining example of such legislation. Through the tireless efforts of Andrew Ross, Esq. of the Philadelphia Law Department, Paul Cohen, Esq. of AAGP, Phil Lord of Turn, George Gould of CLS and Darrell Zaslow, Esq. of HAPCO and others, we were able to take an otherwise onerous law and change it into something that will provide protection for tenants without overburdening rental property owners with unnecessary requirements and expenses which ultimately get passed on to tenants and still provide protection to the tenants and citizens of Philadelphia -- a win-win situation!”
The certificate of rental suitability can be obtained free on the Department of Licenses and Inspections website. To access the form click here.
Property owners can appeal violations to the Board of Licenses and Inspections Review within thirty days of issuance. Philadelphians who wish to request an inspection from the Department should contact 311.
To stay informed about what the Department of Licenses and Inspections is doing in your neighborhood, visit our facebook page at www.facebook.com/PhillyLI.