I could use some help finding some information

[TorchTheWitch]

I've been pulling my hair out over this, and at this point am completely stymied.

I have an eviction hearing early next week and need to find out where I can get a government housing/building inspector to inspect the property and note all the damages and those things I'm not aware of myself that make the house uninhabitable other than those obvious ones (for example, is there mold or dry rot, and can they tell how long such a thing has been going on or electrical issues or any other hazards, etc.).

My township has a housing/building code enforcement office, so naturally I called them. To my utter dismay I was told by two different people there that they only deal with home/building owners... they don't do anything at the request of anyone else such as a tenant or neighbor. Though this has me utterly baffled, I was further dismayed that they had no clue in the world what other agency I could make a complaint to and have an inspection done.

After struggling to find where to go from here I'm not finding anything. Surely there has to be some county or state agency that handles and inspects houses/buildings to make sure they're safe and up to code.

I did find out from the township code enforcement office that my slumlord has never had a license to rent this property at all to anyone. They explained that in order to get a rental license the property has to be inspected first, and of course there's no way on earth this dump would have passed.

I'd so appreciate any information anyone can point me toward. Lately I feel like the stupidest person on earth. The stress of all this has made me just numb, and I keep finding myself having dead brain issues over practically everything which is a whole other universe than the basic brain fart.

And now I really have to walk the hairy beastie since I've already brain farted on that twice tonight.

[Buns_of_Fire]

1. Sorry I can't help, but I can at least kick... nt

[MineralMan]

2. You need an attorney.

Is there a legal aid agency where you are? If so, call them and tell your story. They may be able to help. This is a legal issue.

[lpbk2713]

3. I've never been through the same experience as you but ...

if mold and mildew is an issue maybe the Health Dept can help?

Or along the same lines if roaches or rodents are present?

[marym625]

4. There should be a tenant union or something similar

Not like I did research but a quick Google check came up with this. I think you're in Philly.

http://ourturn.net/

[Spazito]

5. I don't know if this is an agency that can help...

if you are still in Philadelphia (I checked your profile so I could do a search to see what might be available).

City of Philadelphia: Unfair Rental Practices

http://www.phila.gov/FairHousingCommission/Pages/Resources.aspx

[Sherman A1]

6. Try the health department

if there is mold, they may be interested, they may not, but worth a phone call.

[Panich52]

7. Do you know a realtor? In PA they deal w/ buildinh inspectors all the time.

They need pest inspectors to sell & freq have prop inspected structurally f/ buyers. Even if you don't know one, one might gice you names of insp.

Good luck.

[Tsiyu]

8. Call the media? n/t