Philadelphia seller signals from public records

Philadelphia open property maintenance violationsPhiladelphia, PA

Open L&I notices of violation from property-maintenance, exterior and rental inspectors, updated daily. Includes the owner of record from OPA. One row per violation, so a case can add several signals.

Philadelphia open vacant property violationsPhiladelphia, PA

Open violations written by L&I's vacant property investigators (unsecured or unmaintained vacant buildings), updated daily, with the owner of record. Vacant lots are a separate unit and are left out.

Philadelphia open unsafe structure violationsPhiladelphia, PA

Buildings L&I has declared unsafe (failing walls, roofs, porches, fire damage) whose case is still open (about 3,000), updated daily, with the owner of record from OPA.

Philadelphia imminently dangerous buildingsPhiladelphia, PA

Buildings L&I has found in danger of collapse, still open (about 120), updated daily, with the owner of record. The city demolishes these at the owner's cost if they are not fixed quickly, and the bill becomes a lien: a very motivated seller.

Philadelphia city and major demolitionsPhiladelphia, PA

Demolitions the city carried out on dangerous buildings plus privately permitted major demolitions (about 270 a year), updated daily, with the owner of record. After a city demolition the owner is left with a lot and a demolition lien; after a private one, usually a builder. The detail shows which.

Philadelphia residential alteration and make-safe permitsPhiladelphia, PA

Residential building permits for additions and alterations, and make-safe permits issued to fix unsafe houses (about 3,800 a year), updated daily, with the owner of record. Make-safe permits follow an unsafe-structure violation; renovations are pre-sale or post-purchase work.

Philadelphia homes owned from out of statePhiladelphia, PA

Single-family and small multifamily properties whose OPA mailing address is outside Pennsylvania (about 31,000; New Jersey, New York and Delaware lead), with owner and mailing address from the assessment file refreshed weekly. Banks, mortgage agencies and HUD are left out by name.

Philadelphia homes assessed as vacant or sealedPhiladelphia, PA

Houses and small multifamily buildings whose exterior the assessor rates 6 (vacant) or 7 (sealed or structurally compromised), about 4,700, with owner and mailing address from the OPA file refreshed weekly. The rating is updated when an assessor drives by, so some are already rehabbed; check the street view before mailing.

Philadelphia likely vacant buildings (vacancy indicators)Philadelphia, PA

Buildings the city's vacancy model flags as likely vacant from water shutoffs, L&I vacancy violations, USPS vacancy and other indicators (about 9,600), rebuilt daily, with the owner of record. The detail shows the building type and the model score (higher is more likely vacant).

Philadelphia expired or revoked rental licensesPhiladelphia, PA

Rental properties whose city rental license has expired or been revoked (about 4,600), updated daily, with the owner of record. Without a license a landlord cannot legally collect rent or evict, so many of these owners are tired of renting. Owner mailing contacts are rarely filled in.

Philadelphia properties referred to L&I courtPhiladelphia, PA

Inspections by L&I's court units that found the property still in violation (about 14,000 in the last year), the step before the city takes the owner to Municipal Court, updated daily, with the owner of record. One row per failed inspection, so a case can repeat.

Philadelphia vacant and structurally deficient building complaintsPhiladelphia, PA

Complaints to L&I (mostly through 311) about vacant properties and unoccupied buildings that look structurally unsound (about 6,900 a year), updated daily, with the owner of record. A complaint comes before any violation, so it is an early signal; some are unfounded.

Philadelphia unlicensed rental complaintsPhiladelphia, PA

Complaints that a property is being rented without a rental license (about 5,600 a year), updated daily, with the owner of record. An unlicensed landlord cannot collect rent in court, so these owners are under pressure. Some complaints are unfounded.

Philadelphia interior maintenance and unsafe occupied building complaintsPhiladelphia, PA

Complaints to L&I about interior conditions, occupied buildings that look structurally unsound, and sewage backups (about 12,500 a year), updated daily, with the owner of record. Mostly tenants complaining about rentals; a complaint comes before any violation and some are unfounded.

Philadelphia work-without-permit complaintsPhiladelphia, PA

Complaints to L&I that construction is underway without a permit or outside its permit (about 7,500 a year), updated daily, with the owner of record. Often investor rehabs and flips in progress; stop-work orders follow. Some are unfounded.