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Learn how to become a landlord and find resources for connecting with tenants.
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To rent out your property, it needs to have the proper zoning approval. It needs to be zoned to operate as a dwelling, even if the owner occupies one of the units.
Renting out a property is a business, so you need to qualify your business by getting an activity license. The type you’ll need depends on the number of rental units at the property and whether you live there.
| To rent out … | You’ll need … |
|---|---|
| A property you don’t occupy or A property that has four or more units |
A Commercial Activity License and to pay the Business Income & Receipts Tax (BIRT). For both, you’ll also need a business tax account. |
| A property you occupy that has three or fewer units | An Activity License Number. |
Before applying, you’ll have to collect all the necessary paperwork. You will need to:
See all the requirements and steps to get a Rental License.
To apply for a rental license, landlords must be current on property taxes. Check the City’s Property Assessment Tool before you submit your application to:
You can also take advantage of the Philadelphia Tax Center:
Legal ownership of your property, with your name on the deed, allows you to obtain loans or grants, get homeowner’s insurance, and access utility or tax assistance programs, as well as rent or sell your property. Learn about two key issues that can affect your proof of ownership.
A tangled title occurs when your name is not on the deed of the home you’re living in. This often happens when a relative passes and their property is not probated (a legal process that determines that a will is valid).
Deed fraud is when a person:
Use these resources to help prevent deed fraud.
Lead can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing learning disabilities and behavioral problems. Lead is also toxic and causes serious and long-lasting health issues for adults. Learn more about lead safety from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Landlords are required to test and certify rental properties as lead-safe or lead-free in order to:
To test and certify, you need to hire a certified lead professional. Once your property is inspected and approved, you can submit your certification.
Find more Lead and Healthy Homes resources for landlords.
Lead in dust, which is often invisible, is the most common way people are exposed to lead. Lead-based paint is most common in buildings built before 1978. People can also be exposed to lead in soil.
You may be eligible for help with removing the lead in your home. Call (215) 685-2788.
Once you are licensed, you can start the process of finding a tenant. Here are resources to help you understand what to look for:
Once you have a tenant, you need to provide them with certain notices. Landlords in Philadelphia are required to give new tenants copies of these documents.
You can download copies of your lead certifications and disclosures from your account on the Lead Certification Submission System.
The Partners in Good Housing brochure is available translated into several languages.
Provide a copy of your valid Rental License and Certificate of Rental Suitability.
Provide a copy of the bed bug brochure. If applicable, you also need to provide a written description of any bed bug infestation and remediation that happened in the rental unit within the past 120 days, and any ongoing remediation.
Provide a written disclosure of the building’s policy on smoking. The policy needs to state whether smoking is prohibited in all units, allowed in all units, or allowed in some units. See the Philadelphia Code § 9-805. Smoking Disclosure Policy in Multi-Family Buildings for more information.
Learn about your responsibilities for fair housing.