Philadelphia's Department of Licenses (L & I) and Inspections is stepping up scrutiny of rental properties in the hope of improving upkeep and safety of city housing. L&I is targeting properties that have lapsed housing licenses, which landlords must renew yearly for $50. L&I had conducted such inspections for years but stopped doing so under former Mayor John F. Street. The city estimates there are 50,000 residential rental properties in Philadelphia. L&I hopes to inspect about 10,000 this year.
In December, Councilmen James F. Kenney and Frank DiCicco won unanimous City Council approval for a bill requiring inspections every five years for building exteriors. Initial inspections are to be completed by June 30, 2011, for buildings six stories or taller built before 1950; newer buildings are to have their first inspections between 2012 and 2015, based on their age. Building owners, not L&I, are responsible for the inspections. Click here to visit the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/7/10
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment