USEFUL LINKS IN EASTERN, PA AND SOUTHERN, NJ

FREQUENTLY USED ADDRESSES

Department of Records
City Hall Room 160
Phone: 215 686 2251

Department of Licensing and Inspections
Municipal Services Building
1401 JFK Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Concourse Level
Phone: 215 686 2490
Phone: 215 686 2590 ONLY for Heat Problems

Mayor's Complaint Office
City Hall Room 143
Phone: 215 686 3000

Office of Emergency Shelter and Services
1315 Cherry Street
Phone: 215.686.5671
Redevelopment Authority (RDA)
1234 Market Street, 16th Floor
Phone: 215.854.6500

Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA)
3010 Market Street (Section 8)
Phone: 215.684.4300

Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission
601 Walnut Street, Suite 300 South

Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Association
111 West Hunting Park Avenue
Phone: 267.385.3800
www.acctphilly.org

UTILITY CONTACTS

PECO Energy
Customer Service Center
2301 Market Street
P.O. Box 8699
Philadelphia, PA 19101
Customer service inquiries call:
1-800-494-4000 Gas or
electric emergency call:
1-800-841-4141
PSE&G
Billing and account balances: 1-800-436-PSEG
Change of address: 1-800-436-PSEG
Choice/electric and gas deregulation: 1-800-706-PSEG
Energy conservation: 1-800-854-4444
Automatic pay: 1-800-565-1800
Gas conversion(commercial/industrial): 1-800-722-0256
Gas conversion (residential): 1-800-782-0067
Payment arrangements: 1-800-357-2262
Shut-off inquiries: 1-800-357-2262
Street light outages: 1-800-436-PSEG
Go Top

PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTIAL LEASE

Are you looking for a new lease that addresses issues relative to joint and several liability, waiver of notice for evictions, the ability to collect attorney's fees and many other valuable and time-saving clauses? Evictions Unlimited has such a lease available for purchase.

PHILADELPHIA LICENSES

In order to engage in any business, including the rental of real estate, in the City of Philadelphia, you must obtain a business privilege license (BPL). It is a lifetime license with a one time fee, payable to the City, of $300.00. You must have this license before filing for eviction.

In order to save you some time, you can download a copy of the form needed to apply for the BPL by clicking here.

Useful Tip: In a property with four (4) or less rental units, where owner lives on the premises, a BPL is not required.
Renter's License
Along with a BPL, a Renter's License is required by anyone who offers a dwelling unit or rooming unit for rent. There are three categories of such licenses that the department issues: (1) Residential Rental License, (2) Multiple-Family Dwelling Licenses and (3) Rooming House Licenses. This license expires every February and must be renewed annually. The fee for this license, payable to the City, is $50.00 per unit up to a maximum of $20,000.00. This license must also be obtained before filing for eviction.
The Renter's License application can be downloaded by clicking here.

To obtain a Rooming House License, you must have approval from the City of Philadelphia. Click here to download the Application for Zoning/Use Registration Permit.
Go Top

UPPER DARBY LICENSE

In order to rent property in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania you must register your property with the Township. Failure to properly register will impede your ability to evict. To download the application click here.

PHILADELPHIA CONDOMINIUM LICENSING

All multiple family condominium buildings in Philadelphia must be licensed for all units whether they are owner occupied or tenant occupied. This license must be obtained by the condominium association or management. Individually owned condominium units in multiple family buildings, which are rented out, are NOT required to have a separate residential rental license. Owners of condominium units that are rented are required to have only a Business Privilege License in order to file for an eviction.

PHILADELPHIA CERTIFICATE OF RENTAL SUITABILITY

Philadelphia now requires all landlords to provide tenants with a Certificate of Rental Suitability and a "City of Philadelphia Partners for Good Housing Handbook." Click here to see the Handbook and click here to be directed to the Philadelphia Department of Licensing and Inspection.

Failure to obtain the Certificate prior to the rental of the property will affect the landlord's ability to collect rent and/or evict the tenant.

PGW LANDLORD-TENANT COOPERATION PROGRAM

Philadelphia Gas Works will assert a lien against a landlord's real estate for tenant's unpaid gas bills. In order to avoid the placement of such a lien, landlords can register in the Landlord Cooperation Program

LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT OF 1951

The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. Sections 250.101-250.602) is the current statute governing the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Feel free to review the Act by clicking here.
Go Top

PHILADELPHIA FAIR HOUSING ORDINANCE

The Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission was adopted by the Council of the City of Philadelphia and approved by the Mayor on february 8, 1962. Its purpose is to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City. To see the Ordinance, click here.

PENNSYLVANIA HUMAN RELATIONS ACT

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will not tolerate discriminatory practices relative to housing issues. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act can be seen in its entirety by clicking here.

UNIFORM CONDOMINIUM ACT

Interested in seeing the laws related to condominiums in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? Click here to see the entire act.

MOBILE HOME PARK RIGHTS ACT

The Mobile Home Park Rights Act (68 P.S. Sections 398.1, et seq.) is the current statute governing the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Review the Act by clicking here.

MILITARY PERSONNEL

Do you know whether your tenants are members of the military? If not, you better find out and read this section before you attempt to evict them. Pay particular attention to Section 531. Also, be sure to check out the Pennsylvania law related to this topic.

NOTICE TO QUIT

Prior to the filing of a Complaint for Eviction, a landlord must provide the tenant with a properly served Notice to Quit. In order to learn the requirements of a Notice to Quit and the proper methods of service, click here.

RENT WITHHOLDING ACT

Did you know that if a dwelling unit is found unfit for human habitation the duty of the tenant to pay rent and the right of the landlord to collect rent shall be suspended until the dwelling is certified as fit for habitation. To see the act, click here.

EVICTION OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS

If your tenants commit drug distribution offenses on or in the immediate vicinity of leased residential premises, the eviction process may be faster for you, law enforcement and/or tenant organizations within your building. Check out the Expedited Eviction of Drug Traffickers Act.
Go Top

SPACE AND USE REQUIREMENTS

In Philadelphia, the residential property maintenance code has very specific requirements for dwelling units and rooming units. One such requirement is the occupancy area requirements. Stated differently, this is the minimum amount of square footage required in a rental unit, based upon the number of occupants. To view a chart of this information, click here.

PHILADELPHIA EVICTION DOCKETS

Did you know that once you file your eviction in Philadelphia you can check the status on-line? Click here to get connected to the Philadelphia Landlord-Tenant docket system. Once there, enter the name of either party or the docket number.
Go Top

REAL ESTATE SELLER DISCLOSURE LAW

Did you recently purchase or sell a piece of property? If so, then you are familiar will a seller's disclosure form and you are aware of its importance. However, did you know that you may have a cause of action against the seller if they failed to disclose certain information?

To discuss whether you may have a cause of action against your seller, please contact us.

To review the real estate disclosure law, please click here

LOCAL CODES AND ORDINANCES

This is a great site for locating local housing codes and ordinances. Simply click here and then locate the state and county for which you are interested.

NEW JERSEY LAW

Evictions Unlimited is expanding into New Jersey. We have begun a New Jersey law section here. Check back often as we continue to expand this area:

Obtain telephone numbers for the various New Jersey County Courts by clicking here

LOOKING FOR A LAWYER?

Do you need a lawyer? We can represent you in matters involving automobile accident, fall down cases, product malfunction, medical malpractice, credit problems, DUI, criminal matters, motor vehicle tickets, wills, estates, tax issues and business matters. Call us at 215-288-8049 or send us an e-mail to discuss your matter with a lawyer.
Go Top

PHILADELPHIA TAX EXPERTS

If you own rental real estate Philadelphia you must file a Philadelphia tax return on an annual basis. Failure to file such a return could result in fines of $5000.00 and/or a lien against the property. If you need assistance with filing or have questions, call Philadelphia Tax Experts, Inc. at 866-PHILA-TAX (744-5282) to discuss your matter with a tax attorney.

REAL ESTATE SALES/PURCHASES/SERVICES

Click here to see a great website devoted to landlord issues with plenty of valuable resources, tips and information.
Go Top

TITLE COMPANY

Golden Settlement Services provides outstanding settlement services in a friendly, efficient fashion and takes the headaches out of the settlement process. Contact Kathy at 215-426-2881 and tell her you found her at Evictions Unlimited.

OTHER LANDLORD SERVICES

Have you provided your tenants with a " lead paint pamphlet" when signing a lease?

How about a lead disclosure form ?
Go Top