Do Your Howework Before You Rent:

Until Philadelphia publishes housing code violations online, you're stuck with finding out information the old-fashioned way. Here's how it works:

STEP 1- Call Licenses and Inspections. (215)686-2463
Be patient. Have something to do or read while you wait on the phone. When you finally talk to a representative, give them the address(es) you're calling about. The representative will put you on hold and then tell you "yes" or "no" if the property has violations. If there are violations, then prepare for a trip to L&I's ticket counter to pick up a free copy of the violation notices.

STEP 2- Visit L&I's Ticket Counter. Location: 1401 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Municipal Services Building Concourse across from northwestern side of City Hall. Tell the receptionist behind the counter you are there to get a copy of violation notices. You will receive a ticket and be told to go wait in a smaller room adjacent to the larger waiting area. Once you are in that room, the clerk behind the desk will call your number. Indicate why you are there, and you will receive a small blue sheet of paper to put down the address(es) you are requesting violation notices for. Have a seat and wait until another clerk calls out the address(es) you listed. At that point, you should have a copy of the violation notices in your hand.

Links to Resources:

Tenants' Rights Group: TURN

Landlord Association: Apartment Association of Greater Philadelphia

Landlord Association: Homeowners Association of Philadelphia

Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections

Request a Housing Inspection: (215)686-2463

VIDEO: Philadelphia Renter's Law Suspended

September 10th, 2008 - by Stephanie Marudas

It's rare that City Council passes a law, and then the Mayor suspends it nearly two years later. This is what happened to the Rental Suitability Ordinance. Enacted in 2006, this good-faith measure was meant to protect renters from moving into unhealthy and unsafe places. For the first time ever, landlords had to provide new tenants with a Certificate of Rental Suitability: a piece of paper processed online through the Department of Licenses and Inspections. It guaranteed a new tenant that the landlord was licensed and renting a decent place to live. Tenants' rights groups embraced the legislation as a big victory, while two major landlord associations in town stood opposed. The landlords claimed the law was unconstitutional, too vague, and drove up their costs. So they went to the court, and the city decided to suspend enforcing the ordinance in April to negotiate new provisions. It seems likely that City Council will have to review the provisions before amending the legislation. But there's no guarantee council members will all agree on the new measures. So the rental suitability law could end up being suspended longer than the city anticipated.

Click on the picture to play the video

Read the full transcript here »

Documents featured in video:

Rental Suitability Ordinance enacted in 2006
Order suspending the law

L&I Violation Notices:

Hallemah Creighton's apartment: Page 1 | Page 2
Dellarosa Wroten requested a housing code inspection: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4

Reporter's Analysis

Even if the city restores the Certificate of Rental Suitability, the big question is: will it actually protect renters? Because after this series, I'm getting the sense the regulation before might have not been too effective... (read more)

Guest Commentary:
Michael Braverman

We invited Michael Braverman, Baltimore's Deputy Commissioner for Code Enforcement, to tell us how his city made it easier for the public to find violations before they rent... (read more)

Reporter's Analysis

Guest Commentary: Michael Braverman

Guest Commentary:
Michael Braverman