Rental License / Rental Suitability --- huh
So, I just purchased my first investment property in Philadelphia. It needs minor work I think (it definitely needs new flooring and painting, but I also might want to replace the ugly kitchen and bathroom). I will work on this stuff myself, but I'm not sure how long it will take. I may have a project coming up at work where I'll need to travel extensively. While I'm in Philadelphia and I have time, I want to get the rental license out of the way because I hear I could run into some issues and it might be time consuming. I couldn't do it online so I need to go downtown. I'm worried that if I get the rental license and an inspector comes before I do the work, I'll get violations and stuff. A rental license doesn't mean it is rental ready...right? It just means that I want to rent it out in the future. It is good for a year right? I think the rental suitability certificate expires in 60 days, not the license? So my thought is:
1: get the rental license
2: fix it up (it might take a month or 3 months, I'm not sure)
3: advertise for tenants and find a few
4: get rental suitability certificate
5: make sure I get a lease signed 60 days after getting suitability certificate (give tenant that wonderful brochure...just print it out at staples
6: renew rental license every year
My question is, at what point does an inspector come?
Most Popular Reply
The first thing you’ll need is a “Commercial Activity License” (formerly known as Business Privilege License), which was free last I checked. @Yuriy Skripnichenko put together a good thread some time ago itemizing the Philadelphia rental “red tape” requirements - I suggest you look it up.