This Doesn't Make Sense

12/10/2021

may vote to increase its local realty transfer tax next Wednesday, from 1% to 1.5%. Along with the state transfer tax of 1%, this will bring your total tax bill to 2.5%.

What does this mean? If you sell your home for $200,000, you’ll pay an extra $1,000 in local transfer tax, bringing the combined bill to $5,000. That is equity in your home that you will never see again.

Read more and use our form to contact Upper Darby Township Council: www.ThisDoesntMakeSense.org

Your home equity belongs to you, not Upper Darby!

11/03/2016

Realtors® sent almost 14,000 emails to legislators regarding HB 1437, making it one of the most talked about pieces of legislation in the capitol.

09/23/2016

Some local municipalities are claiming that cracked sidewalks and missing house numbers make a house "unfit for habitation." They're refusing to issue temporary use and occupancy certificates to homebuyers, stifling the negotiation process and delaying closings. House Bill 1437 will more clearly def...

09/08/2016

Clifton Heights homeowner can’t afford $6,000 fee to remove overgrown tree - Clifton Heights Borough residents have been grappling for two decades to come up with a solution for removing a large tree causing damage to a residential sidewalk in a cul-de-sac on Chester Ave. Former Deputy Code Enforcement Officer Alfred Rich said the tree, along with others lining the same street, was planted by the borough some 50 years ago “for aesthetic value” to compliment the then-newly built row homes. Unfortunately, the tree has created a major issue for the property owner, who is attempting to sell her home. Potential buyers want her to remove the tree, but she said she was quoted $6,000 for removal costs, which she says is too expensive after having replaced the sidewalk twice. According to the property owner, Code Enforcement Officer Anthony Tartaglia, who is also borough manager, maintained there was nothing he could do, but suggested that a reduction in the size of the front yard could be made to compensate for the lack of sidewalk. Rich said he initially raised the issue some 20 years ago to borough officials when he was deputy code enforcement officer, fearing that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Source: Chester Spirit; 9/7/2016

http://chesterspirit.com/2016/09/homeowner-cant-afford-6000-fee-residents-fight-borough-over-overgrown-tree/

Homeowner can’t afford $6,000 fee: Residents fight borough over overgrown tree Posted by Michel Lee | Sep 7, 2016 | Community, Featured, News, Trending | 0 | By MichelLee [email protected] Clifton Heights Borough residents have been grappling for a solution to a 20-year problem…

08/08/2016

Oxford Borough Council will be discussing the point-of-sale sidewalk installation requirement tonight at 7 p.m.

08/04/2016

Cheltenham has postponed until Sept. 28 a public hearing on proposed ordinances that would implement a system of sewer lateral inspections throughout the township. The township, which is under a consent decree by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to reduce the amount of storm water entering its sewer system, is considering two ordinances that would take drastically different approaches to address the issue. The first, which would require that all properties in the township have their sewer lateral line inspected over an eight year period, is supported by the Suburban REALTORS Alliance (SRA). The second, which would only require sewer lateral inspections at the time of a real estate sale or deed transfer, is opposed by the SRA. Jamie Ridge, president/ceo of the SRA, said the ordinance requiring an eight year inspection timeline is “exactly the type of remedy that should be a model for all southeastern PA municipalities facing similar infrastructure issues.” He warned against passage of the point-of-sale ordinance, which he said “will ensure the continued infiltration of fresh water into Cheltenham’s sewer system for many decades to come while making buying and selling homes in the township much more expensive and difficult.” Follow the link below to read the letter sent by the SRA to township officials.https://asoft10215.accrisoft.com/sra/clientuploads/Cheltenham%20Township%20Commissioners%20Letter.pdf

06/23/2016

Oxford Borough votes some relief from sidewalk ordinance -
Enforcement of Oxford’s point-of-sale sidewalk ordinance is being put on hold pending an upcoming hearing at the Council’s August 8 meeting. Council approved advertising an amendment that removes the requirement that whenever a property is sold, sidewalks must be installed if there are currently none. Council has been debating sidewalks for years. For a time, the current ordinance went mostly unenforced, but the policy shifted in the last year. As a result, property owners buying or selling in the borough faced what could be costly improvements at closing. If the ordinance amendment is not approved, the installation requirement will go back into effect.
Source: Avon Grove Sun; 6/23/2016

08/31/2015

This does make sense: Jenkintown borough council outlined its plan for enforcing necessary curb and sidewalk replacement.

Council President Deborra Sines Pancoe and Borough Manager George Locke explained the actions that would be taken to gain compliance from borough residents about performing necessary maintenance and making required repairs to their sidewalks.
-Initial notification is sent out to residents informing them that they will need to make arrangements for repairs to be made or maintenance to be performed on the sidewalk area and curb on their property. Doing so would allow residents time to gather bids from contractors in order to obtain the best possible price for the work to be completed.
-A month or so later, residents will receive an official notice that the repairs must be completed within an allocated time frame. If the work is not completed, a notice of violation will be sent to the residence. If the work has still not been completed, another notification will be sent informing them that they are in non-compliance and will be subject to a fine anywhere between $50 and $600, in accordance with the borough code.
-If after a citation has been issued and the work continues to be ignored, the borough has the option of enforcing a lien in which the work will be completed by the borough and the property owner will be responsible for the costs incurred by the borough plus an additional 10 percent.

http://montgomerynews.com/articles/2015/08/31/glenside_news_globe_times_chronicle/news/doc55dd4a2076ece343891113.txt

Jenkinton Borough outlines curb, sidewalk replacement process - JENKINTOWN >> Borough council outlined its plan for enforcing necessary curb and sidewalk replacement on borough residents at its Aug. 24 meeting.

02/20/2015

Oxford continues to discuss enforcing sidewalk ordinance at point of sale -
Oxford Council wants to institute a system that may delay real estate sales until sellers comply with all borough ordinances, including a new sidewalk ordinance. At a recent council meeting there was a heated discussion on the issue. According to the current code, when a property is sold, sidewalks must be installed if there are none in place. Despite the code, it appears that transfers have been taking place in recent years without sidewalks being installed. Councilman John Thompson told council there have been two such sales on his block alone. Installing sidewalks is not limited to the time of property sale. Council has been struggling to decide if it will force the installation of sidewalks along North Third Street in the vicinity of the WalMart shopping center. Ordinances allow the borough to compel the installation of the sidewalks for safety reasons, but because it is along a state highway, the standards for construction and the necessary permits, inspections and expense are more extensive than they would be along borough roads. Because of the expense, the borough might have to do the work and lien properties in an attempt to recover the cost. The borough will also face the challenge of trying to circumvent the PA Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act if they attempt to force sellers to install sidewalks as a condition of receiving a use and occupancy permit.
Source: Daily Local; 2/18/2015

As an advocate for the real estate industry and consumers of real estate in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties (PA), the Suburban REALTORS® Alliance utilizes policy statements as the foundation for its activities. In developing these policies, the Alliance seeks the input and experienc…

02/12/2015

Lower Chichester to consider adopting sprinkler ordinance -
Lower Chichester Township will consider adopting a sprinkler ordinance requiring sprinklers in new construction, conversions from owner occupied to rental, and rental properties that are sold. Township has filed the proposed ordinance with the PA Department of Labor and Industry because it would exceed the current Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC). The Suburban Realtors Alliance sent a message to home owners in Lower Chichester explaining how the ordinance could negatively impact properties in the township. “I am writing to inform you that an ordinance being considered by Lower Chichester Township Council could limit your ability to sell your home, as well as lowering its value,” Alliance President/CEO states in the letter. The Alliance is urging Lower Chichester residents to oppose the ordinance to protect their home’s value. The ordinance will be considered for adoption on President’s Day, Monday, February 16, 2015, at 7:30 P.M., at the Township Building (1410 Market Street, Linwood, PA 19061).
Source: Daily Times; 02/06/2015

08/08/2014

Here's an interesting idea from Peters Township Sewer Authority: they do area-wide testing to determine where there are inflow and infiltration issues from stormwater.

"Area-wide testing involves testing all houses in a pre-determined area for rain and groundwater entering the sewer system. Homes are selected geographically by sewersheds, or homes whose sewers drain to a common point. This method has the greatest impact to the system as a whole since it allows us to accurately measure the amount of extraneous water we remove from infiltrating our system."

Seems a lot more logical than tackling the problem only in houses that are being sold. (We like logical solutions.)

http://www.ptsaonline.org/PTSA_brochure_area_wide_testing.htm

The Peter Township Sanitary Authority is located in Washington County, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of providing and maintaining a sanitary sewer collection, conveyance, and treatment systems for the western portion of Peters Township.