U&O violations Philadelphia, PA

[Eli M.]

Dear BP community,

I am about to buy a single family house in East Germantown, Philly. However, the seller stipulates that i am paying all the transfer taxes and I buy the house AS IS and I am responsible for U&O. He claims there are only two small violations (broken garage door and renting without renter's license) . How should i go about this purchase?

Which steps of precaution should I be taking?

Thank you all in advance

[Chris K.]

@Eli M.

Transfer taxes are transfer taxes. I assume you are comfortable with that. I think the total tax amount is now 4.1% in Philly. 

For Use and Occupancy, that generally depends on the local laws. I haven't had to deal with this in Philly in a while, but I believe they have an online system for getting the necessary certifications. I recall it being a quick process. But based on what the seller is saying, it sounds like the Licensing and Inspections already told him that the property is in violation. And if so, I believe you will need to deal with L&I and they will do an actual inspection (which could lead to additional violations).

Call them and see what the deal is. Perhaps you can buy it without getting the necessary certificates, but I don't know what the consequences are in Philadelphia off the top of my head. 

In terms of precautions, it's hard to say since I have no idea what your experience level is with Pennsylvania deals. If you are newish, consider working with a realtor or an attorney to help you through out the process. That's especially true if you think this will end up being a deal that's a bit more complicated than your usual cookie-cutter deals.  

Disclaimer: While I’m an attorney licensed to practice in PA, I’m not your attorney. What I wrote above does not create an attorney/client relationship between us. I wrote the above for informational purposes. Do not rely on it as legal advice. Always consult with your attorney before you rely on the above information.