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← All Philadelphia landlord answers

Does the Free Property Check or Compliance Watch certify that my property is compliant?

No. The Free Property Check reads the public records the City publishes for your address, and Compliance Watch keeps those records separate from clearly labeled owner answers for requirements that public data cannot settle. Each reports what those facts show and organizes follow-up work. Neither is a legal certification, an inspection, a City determination, or a substitute for an attorney, accountant, inspector, licensing professional, or the City itself.

The distinction matters because Philadelphia compliance ultimately turns on the City's own records and decisions. Only L&I issues a rental license or a Certificate of Rental Suitability, and only the City marks a violation complied. A report from any private service, ours included, cannot make a property compliant; it can only make the picture visible and the next step clear.

Some requirements aren't settled by the City's published data, such as whether a lead certificate covers your exact unit, or your business-tax standing. We flag those for you to confirm rather than guessing or implying a pass.

What Compliance Watch gives you is one workspace for facts read from City records, facts only you can confirm, City sites that did not respond, dated tasks, reminders, and resolution history.

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Philly Rental Compliance is an independent service, not the City of Philadelphia or a law firm. Answers about City rules summarize the City's published requirements as general information, not legal advice; requirements change, and future-effective provisions need a current check of implementation and litigation status. For legal questions about your situation, talk to a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.

See where your own property stands

Preview your rental-license status, recorded expiry and counts of items needing attention (free, in about 30 seconds, with a copy by email). Compliance Watch adds the full record details, next steps, reminders and supported-source rechecks, from $99/year.