Philadelphia lead certification: where maintenance support ends and certified work begins

Certification is an official, qualified-professional process

Philadelphia requires landlords to test and certify rental properties as lead-safe or lead-free to execute a new or renewed lease and to obtain or renew a Rental License. The City directs landlords to approved or certified lead professionals for testing and certification, then to submit the results through the Lead Certification Submission System.

A general property-maintenance evaluation, paint estimate, or repair invoice is not a lead certificate. The person performing testing or issuing certification must hold the qualifications required by the applicable City, Pennsylvania, and federal rules.

Separate the work into three records

Keeping these records separate helps prevent a repair proposal from being mistaken for an environmental determination or an official certificate.

• Condition record: visible paint, moisture, damage, access, occupancy, and areas included in the requested scope.
• Qualified lead record: testing, inspection, dust-wipe results, certification, and any required retest from the approved professional.
• Repair record: the written scope, authorization, containment requirements, work performed, photos, and closeout from the qualified contractor responsible for that scope.

Failed or unsafe conditions require the correct escalation

The City’s current landlord resources explain that properties requiring certification should be tested by approved or certified professionals. When testing finds a problem, correction and any required retesting must follow the applicable lead-safety process. Owners should not authorize ordinary sanding, scraping, demolition, or painting based only on a visual assumption about lead risk.

Before disturbing painted surfaces in an older rental property, identify the property age, occupancy, test or certification status, exact work area, and the qualifications required for the scope. Pause and seek qualified guidance whenever the correct path is unclear.

Use the SPC ONE to keep decisions connected

• Upload the official report or certificate to the property-specific work order.
• Record who authorized the repair and any not-to-exceed limit.
• Keep internal notes separate from client-visible updates.
• Attach progress and closeout photos only when allowed by the approved process.
• Record any required retest, filing, or owner follow-up before closing the project.