Getting Your Property Rent Ready

A clean, empty room with white walls and hardwood floors

We are committed to providing safe, clean, and properly maintained homes to our residents.

To comply with the Pennsylvania warranty of habitability law, Pennsylvania judicial law, Philadelphia law and ordinances and TrustArt Realty standards, the below items must be completed before we will advertise and rent a property, every property must meet the below list to be fully advertised and be ‘Rent-Ready’.

Requirements:

  1. Professionally cleaned to ‘Hotel Room Clean.’
  2. Carpet professionally cleaned and looking fresh.
  3. All painted surfaces fresh with no mis-match touch-up areas and repainting must be done corner to corner.
  4. All bedroom windows must have vertical or mini blinds.
  5. No personal property or items in the unit. This includes furniture, knickknacks, toiletries, shower curtains, Kleenex boxes, kitchen or bathroom items, soap dispenser, pictures, etc.
  6. No lawn equipment including mowers, tools, etc.
  7. Garage floor swept.
  8. No exterior debris.
  9. Lawn cut and trimmed.
  10. Landscaping fresh and clean.
  11. Carbon monoxide detectors installed within 15 feet of each bedroom. ONLY wall/ceiling mounted, NO plug-in units.
  12. Smoke detector on each floor.
  13. Smoke detector in each bedroom where required.
  14. Back sliding door must have vertical blinds.
  15. All light bulbs are working.
  16. Doors open & close smoothly.
  17. Bathroom caulking must be fresh and free of any mildew.
  18. All mechanical components working as designed. Includes HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems, kitchen appliances, laundry appliances, sump pumps, water softeners, sprinkler systems, swamp coolers, gas fireplaces, water filtration systems, etc.
  19. Safety railings secure.
  20. Exterior window wells require covers.
  21. Wood-burning fireplace(s), if operational, shall be clean of any debris and have a fireplace screen or heat-proof glass doors installed. If non-operational, the fireplace opening on the interior of the home shall be permanently sealed with an aesthetically pleasing material.

A curved wall with five windows

This list is not meant to cover each and make-ready required item, but it does list some of the most important and often overlooked.

If you offer your property to PHA (Section-8) tenants, you can find all requirements here.

Habitability Standards

This list is a condensed version of the requirements of HUD guidelines. It is to help you understand the general habitability requirements of your rental property. If issues occur on the properties that affect these standards, we will take action to correct the noncompliance according to our management agreement.

Exterior Condition

  • Foundation is sound and free from hazards.
  • Condition of exterior walkways, driveways, stairs, rails and porches is sound and
  • free from hazards.
  • Roof, gutters and downspouts are sound and free from hazards.
  • Condition of chimney and cap (if applicable) are sound and free from hazards.
  • Manufactured Homes are properly tied down and meet State Codes.
  • Grounds are mowed, weeded, edged and free of trash and debris.
  • No overgrown vegetation.
  • Pool fencing or alarm as required by code.
  • Mail box available.
  • All windows and Doors have locks in working order and are not deteriorated.

General Health and Safety

  • Access is not through anyone else’s dwelling.
  • Exit in case of fire meets local and state codes.
  • No evidence of pest infestation.
  • No garbage and debris in or outside the home.
  • Adequate refuse removal facilities are available.
  • Interior Stairs and Common Halls are sound and free from hazards.
  • Lead paint remediation is completed by Certified Lead Paint Remediation contractors.

Man standing on a ladder panting a ceiling

Heating, Plumbing and Electrical

  • Adequate heating and air conditioning equipment for all rooms and is properly
  • ventilated.
  • Unit safe from unvented fuel burning space heaters.
  • Water heater is installed safely, is free of leaks and heats water to code standards.
  • Water supply from an approved public or private sanitary source.
  • Plumbing is free from leaks and corrosion that cause serious or persistent levels of rust or contamination of drinking water.
  • Toilets flush.
  • Sewer connection is to an approved public or private disposal system and is free from sewer back-up.
  • Electrical wiring in all rooms is in good working order and meets local housing codes.
  • Electrical wiring in all rooms is in good working order and meets local housing codes.
  • Lighting illumination or electrical outlets are provided at all entrances and in ceilings or walls of all rooms.

Interior Conditions

  • Walls and ceilings are free of peeling paint and excessive dirt.
  • Floors are sound and free from hazardous defects.
  • Smoke detectors are present at each floor level and meet NFPA 74 requirements.
  • Kitchen contains a stove and oven.
  • If the refrigerator is provided it is in clean working condition.
  • There is an adequate food storage cabinet area in good condition.

  • There is an adequate food preparation area covered with surface material that can be sanitized.

    Landscaping

    Our biggest complaint from L&I is regarding the landscape. Even if your tenant is responsible in the lease agreement for landscaping, you must understand and agree that drought, pests and tenant neglect is common and it is extremely difficult to expect the tenant to maintain the landscaping as you would. We urge you to have professional lawn/landscaping service.

Re-Keying

We Re-Key the outside access doors to the home as a matter of security and risk management. The fees charged are nominal compared to the cost of litigation, injury or even death.