What the numbers mean for West Philly landlords
Kingsessing and Cedar Park (19143) have 4,714 licensed rentals, the second most of any Philadelphia ZIP code, and 4,566 of them were built before 1978. Their renewals pick up over the next two years: 405 certificates expire in 2027 and 702 in 2028.
University City (19104) looks different: of its 3,425 licensed rentals, 683 are registered exempt, mostly buildings put up after 1978. The older twins and converted houses around them still need certificates, one per unit.
Across the area, 1,064 licensed rentals show an expired certificate in the City’s records. A rental license renewal, or a new or renewed lease, needs a current one.
What a test involves here
West Philadelphia’s housing is mostly early-1900s rowhomes and twins, and many larger houses are split into two or three apartments. Each apartment is its own unit. For each one we wipe one floor and one windowsill in every bedroom and in one common room, plus a blank control. A 2-bedroom apartment is 7 samples. Testing every unit in a house in one visit takes 20% off each.
Original wood windows and painted sills are the usual reason a unit fails under the 2026 limits (floors 5, sills 40, troughs 100 µg/ft²). Fix any peeling paint well before the visit, then wet-clean; the prep checklist has the details.
After you pass
You get the certificate and lab report by email, with the exact steps for filing on the City’s lead certification portal. The certificate is good for four years, and we remind you before it expires.