Philly Rental License Series: Certificate of Rental Suitability

Welcome to the Philly Rental License Series where we break down the elements of the Philadelphia rental license application and requirements.

The Certificate of Rental Suitability is a document that property owners are required to provide to tenants renting residential real estate prior to moving in. The owner must have an active Rental License for the property and no outstanding violation notices in order to qualify for a Certificate of Rental Suitability. In addition, the owner must sign a testament that the property is safe, habitable and that all fire protection and smoke detectors are in good working order.

How long is a Certificate of Rental Suitability valid for? 60 Days - there is a small time window because its purpose is to validate that at the time of moving in, the property is in compliance with the local regulations.

How often does a Certificate of Rental Suitability need to be obtained? Each time a property owner rents to a new tenant or renews an existing tenant’s lease agreement, the owner must obtain a new Certificate of Rental Suitability.

Is there an inspection for this certificate? No, there is no in person inspection conducted by Philadelphia.

What happens if the property owner fails to provide a Certificate of Rental Suitability? A Certificate of Rental Suitability is required to file an eviction proceeding. If the property owner fails to provide tenants with this certificate and then winds up in Landlord/Tenant court for any reason, the court may rule in favor of the tenant on the premise that a Certificate of Rental Suitability was not provided.

For more information about Philadelphia Rental License compliance, please contact Philly Rental License at info@phillyrentallicense.com or (267) 310-1834