{"asOf":"2026-07-23T22:21:08.132Z","block":"200-299 BUCKINGHAM PL","blockUrl":"https://philadelphia.blockreport.homes/block/200-299-buckingham-pl","address":"231 BUCKINGHAM PL","parcelNumber":"272137600","source":"https://property.phila.gov/?p=272137600","ownerType":"owner-occupied","kind":"multi-family","isHouse":false,"home":true,"commercial":false,"residential":true,"taxExempt":false,"institutional":false,"buildingCode":"N50","buildingCodeNew":"36","buildingClass":"S/D CONV APT 3 STY MASON","buildingClassNew":"TWIN OLD STYLE","useLabel":"Apartment building","owner":"SPAFFORD DAVID","coOwner":"MURA VIVIANA","marketValue":761900,"landAssessment":152380,"improvementAssessment":609520,"livableArea":1890,"yearBuilt":1915,"lastSale":{"price":727000,"date":"2018-09-18T04:00:00Z"},"openViolations":0,"violations":[{"number":"3154625","date":"2014-03-11","code":"PM-302.4/7","title":"DRAINAGE-DOWNSPOUT REPR/REPLC","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null,"resolution":null},{"number":"3154624","date":"2014-03-11","code":"PM-302.4/6","title":"DRAINAGE-DOWNSPOUT CONNECT","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null,"resolution":null}],"violationCases":[{"number":"421781","type":"STANDARD","priority":"STANDARD","responsibility":"HCEU","status":"CLOSED","createdDate":"2014-03-12","completedDate":"2014-05-28","violations":[{"number":"3154625","date":"2014-03-11","code":"PM-302.4/7","title":"DRAINAGE-DOWNSPOUT REPR/REPLC","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null,"resolution":null},{"number":"3154624","date":"2014-03-11","code":"PM-302.4/6","title":"DRAINAGE-DOWNSPOUT CONNECT","status":"COMPLIED","resolutionDate":null,"resolution":null}]}],"violYears":[{"y":2014,"n":2,"worst":null}],"investigations":[{"caseNumber":"421781","date":"2014-03-11","type":"HCEU INSP","status":"FAILED"},{"caseNumber":"421781","date":"2014-04-23","type":"HCEU INSP","status":"FAILED"},{"caseNumber":"421781","date":"2014-05-28","type":"HCEU INSP","status":"PASSED"}],"inspYears":[{"y":2014,"fails":2,"passes":1}],"taxOwed":0,"taxSnapshot":{"available":true,"asOf":"2022-06","matched":false},"taxDelinquencySnapshotAsOf":"2022-06","taxDelinquencySnapshotAvailable":true,"lat":39.95426587234509,"lng":-75.21083304294447,"geom":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-75.210687619,39.954274605],[-75.21069944,39.95422172],[-75.210979341,39.954258043],[-75.21096877,39.954309441],[-75.210687619,39.954274605]]]},"liDistrict":"CENTRAL WEST","certifications":[],"cityRecordAvailability":{"violations":true,"investigations":true,"appeals":true,"certifications":true,"permits":true,"licenses":true},"zip":"19104","beds":null,"baths":null,"stories":3,"lotArea":1493,"zoning":"RSA3","grade":"B-","basement":null,"heater":null,"centralAir":null,"extCond":"3","intCond":"2","garage":null,"homestead":false,"mail":"231 BUCKINGHAM PL, PHILADELPHIA PA, 19104","mailOut":false,"appeals":[],"taxYears":[{"year":2016,"total":4627.18,"principal":3741.11,"interest":56.12,"penalty":37.41}],"taxNet":4627.18,"taxLien":true,"taxLedgerThrough":2016,"taxLedgerAvailable":true,"timesSold":2,"abated":true,"assessmentExemption":true,"exemptionBasisVerified":false,"valueSeries":[{"y":2016,"v":232400,"taxable":232400,"land":44982,"improvement":187418,"taxableLand":44982,"taxableImprovement":187418,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0},{"y":2017,"v":232400,"taxable":232400,"land":34860,"improvement":197540,"taxableLand":34860,"taxableImprovement":197540,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0},{"y":2018,"v":232400,"taxable":232400,"land":34860,"improvement":197540,"taxableLand":34860,"taxableImprovement":197540,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0},{"y":2019,"v":306900,"taxable":306900,"land":46035,"improvement":260865,"taxableLand":46035,"taxableImprovement":260865,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0},{"y":2020,"v":318800,"taxable":318800,"land":47820,"improvement":270980,"taxableLand":47820,"taxableImprovement":270980,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0},{"y":2021,"v":318800,"taxable":318800,"land":47820,"improvement":270980,"taxableLand":47820,"taxableImprovement":270980,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0},{"y":2022,"v":318800,"taxable":318800,"land":47820,"improvement":270980,"taxableLand":47820,"taxableImprovement":270980,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0},{"y":2023,"v":800000,"taxable":306900,"land":160000,"improvement":640000,"taxableLand":160000,"taxableImprovement":146900,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":493100},{"y":2024,"v":800000,"taxable":306900,"land":160000,"improvement":640000,"taxableLand":160000,"taxableImprovement":146900,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":493100},{"y":2025,"v":857000,"taxable":328766,"land":171400,"improvement":685600,"taxableLand":171400,"taxableImprovement":157366,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":528234},{"y":2026,"v":857000,"taxable":328766,"land":171400,"improvement":685600,"taxableLand":171400,"taxableImprovement":157366,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":528234},{"y":2027,"v":761900,"taxable":292284,"land":152380,"improvement":609520,"taxableLand":152380,"taxableImprovement":139904,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":469616}],"taxNow":4602,"familyHeld":false,"lastTransferNominal":false,"permits":[{"number":"849897","date":"2018-02-02","work":"Electrical","type":"EP_ELECTRL","description":"ELECTRICAL PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":"2018-11-19","scope":"INSTALL NEW 200AMP SERVICE, REWIRE SINGLE FMAILY & INSTALL DEVICES, LIGHT FIXTURES, RECEPTS, SWITCHES & SMOKE DETECTORS BY FISHING ONLY AS PER 2008 NEC (WEST DISTRICT) NO BUILDING PERMIT ON FILE WITH THE DEPARTMENT"},{"number":"850330","date":"2018-02-06","work":"Major alteration","type":"BP_ALTER","description":"ALTERATION PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":"2018-08-23","scope":"INTERIOR ALTERATIONS TO INCLUDE DRYWALL, SHEETROCK, NEW BATHROOM AND KITCHEN, NEW WINDOWS AND DOORS IN EXISTING OPENING. APPLICANT AGREES TO LIMIT THE CONSTRUCTION TO COMPLY WITH EZ PERMIT STANDARD FOR INTERIOR ALTERATIONS, DATED JANUARY 2011. DEVIATION FROM THE STANDARD WILL RESULT IN REVOCATION OF THIS PERMIT AND IMPOSITION OF FURTHER PENALTIES. SEPARATE PERMITS REQUIRED FOR PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL WORK"},{"number":"856598","date":"2018-03-05","work":"Plumbing","type":"PP_PLUMBNG","description":"PLUMBING PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":"2018-08-23","scope":"ROUGH IN & FINISH 3 WATER CLOSETS, 5 LAVY SINKS, 2 TUBS, 1 SHOWER STALL, 1 KITCHEN SINK, 1 GARBAGE DISPOSAL, 1 DISHWASHER, 1 LAUNDRY - THE INSTALLATION WILL COMPLY WITH THE PHILADEPHIA PLUBMING CODE 2004"},{"number":"857088","date":"2018-03-06","work":"Mechanical","type":"BP_MECH","description":"MECHANICAL PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":"2018-08-23","scope":"INSTALL ONE 40,000 BTU HVAC SYSTEM WITH NEW DUCT WORK WITH 1 1/2 TONS OF AIR WITH 90% EFF,INSTALL 60,000 BTU HVAC SYSTEM WITH NEW DUCT WORK AND 2 TONS OF AIR WITH 90% EFF"},{"number":"865359","date":"2018-04-06","work":"Administrative","type":"BP_ADMINST","description":"ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":"2018-05-01","scope":"AMEND PERMIT #850330 TO AMEND EST COST OF WORK"},{"number":"869655","date":"2018-04-20","work":"Administrative","type":"BP_ADMINST","description":"ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":"2018-05-01","scope":"TO DOCUMENT ACCURATE SQFT THAT WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. INCREAS SQFT FROM 1400 TO 2200 SQFT."}],"storyTag":"Renovated & sold on","storyDelta":2.63,"timeline":[{"y":2014,"k":"viol","w":"2 L&I violations"},{"y":2014,"k":"insp","w":"L&I: 2 failed, 1 passed"},{"y":2018,"k":"sale","p":200000},{"y":2018,"k":"permit","w":"Electrical"},{"y":2018,"k":"permit","w":"Major alteration"},{"y":2018,"k":"permit","w":"Plumbing"},{"y":2018,"k":"permit","w":"Mechanical"},{"y":2018,"k":"permit","w":"Administrative"},{"y":2018,"k":"permit","w":"Administrative"},{"y":2018,"k":"sale","p":727000}],"rented":false,"licenses":[],"licenseActivity":[],"businessLicenseSourceDate":"2026-07-23","signals":[{"kind":"permit-mismatch","level":"watch","title":"Assessment/permit mismatch","summary":"The assessment jumped 151% in 2023, but no matching permit appears in the property timeline.","evidence":["assessment moved from $318,800 to $800,000","no permit shown in 2022-2024"],"caveat":"Not proof of unpermitted work; reassessment, corrected data, or a permit under another parcel can also explain it."}],"legalChecks":[{"id":"use-occupancy","level":"attention","title":"Zoning approval is not the occupancy file","finding":"The record identifies more than one dwelling/use.","why":"Philadelphia says a zoning approval or Property Sales Certification can identify a use without proving that it was established under the Building Code. A change of use, unit count, exits, or fire rating can require a Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy.","action":"Verify the lawful use, unit count, associated construction permits, and Certificate of Occupancy with L&I.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-certificate/get-a-certificate-of-occupancy/"},{"id":"rental-status","level":"verify","title":"Residential form does not establish rental use","finding":"OPA classifies the parcel as multi-family; no active Rental License row matched.","why":"A multi-unit or mixed-use classification does not prove that space is currently rented. If dwelling space is rented, Philadelphia generally requires a current Rental License and related occupancy, tax, violation, and lead compliance.","action":"Confirm actual occupancy first; if any unit is rented, verify the license and legal unit count with L&I.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/rent-or-sell-property/get-a-rental-license/"},{"id":"investigations","level":"verify","title":"Failed inspections are dated events—not the current condition","finding":"2 failed, 1 passed, and 0 CLOSED investigation outcomes are in the fetched history; the latest dated visit was PASSED on May 28, 2014.","why":"A PASSED or FAILED value applies to that inspection visit. CLOSED is a separate source status; none of the three alone proves the parent permit or violation case closed—or describes today’s condition.","action":"Open the parent case/permit for each material failure and confirm its later disposition.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections-by-permit-type/"},{"id":"abatement","level":"verify","title":"A reduced taxable assessment is not a verified abatement","finding":"OPA’s numeric assessment fields show a reduced taxable assessment; BlockReport has no official program determination for this parcel.","why":"The numeric treatment can reflect an improvement abatement or another exemption. It does not identify the ordinance, approval, start or end date, or continuation requirements after a transfer. Once OPA verifies a specific active abatement, many common programs attach the benefit to the property for the remaining term rather than ending automatically at sale, but some require a new-owner filing and continued qualifying use or tax compliance.","action":"Obtain the OPA exemption/abatement determination and history, then underwrite the buyer’s bill from the verified program terms.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/payments-assistance-taxes/taxes/property-and-real-estate-taxes/get-real-estate-tax-relief/get-a-property-tax-abatement/"},{"id":"commercial-trash","level":"verify","title":"A separate Commercial Trash account may apply","finding":"OPA classifies the parcel as multi-family. BlockReport does not receive a current Commercial Trash account balance.","why":"Philadelphia charges qualifying small commercial, mixed-use, and multi-unit properties that use City collection; exemptions and private collection can change applicability. A use category alone does not prove a fee is due.","action":"Check the Commercial Trash account inside the date-effective Property Payoff.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/2026-06-09-pay-your-trash-fee-bill-by-june-30/"},{"id":"violations","level":"clear","title":"No open violation; closed history remains relevant","finding":"The fetched record shows 0 open and 2 historical violations across 1 case.","why":"A closed case is materially better than an open one, but it does not by itself prove that every altered use, unit, or concealed condition matches today’s approvals.","action":"Use the closed cases to target the inspection and occupancy-file review.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections/violation-and-order-types/"}],"closingChecks":[{"title":"Property Sales Certification","body":"The seller must obtain Philadelphia’s certificate showing the base zoning, last use in the zoning record, and open violations. The City warns that it does not prove Building Code occupancy or show zoning overlays.","action":"Obtain the fresh certificate and compare it with the CO, permits, and Atlas overlays.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-certificate/get-a-property-sales-certification/"},{"title":"Date-effective City Property Payoff","body":"The Tax Center Property Payoff covers Real Estate Tax, Commercial Trash, and L&I abatement-work invoices. Philadelphia says it does not include business-tax debts or liens, water and sewer charges, or fines for code violations.","action":"Request the City statement effective through settlement; read every period and invoice.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/guides/philadelphia-tax-center/what-to-do/"},{"title":"Professional title and water-lien searches","body":"OPA ownership, deed summaries, and a zero tax balance are not clear title. Mortgages, judgments, municipal claims, water liens, easements, heirs, and other encumbrances require separate searches.","action":"Use a Pennsylvania lawyer/title company and obtain owner’s title insurance; order the separate water search/payoff.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/2026-04-07-why-title-insurance-is-your-best-friend-when-buying-a-home-in-philadelphia/","secondaryUrl":"https://www.phila.gov/services/water-gas-utilities/pay-or-dispute-a-water-bill/resolve-water-liens-judgments/"},{"title":"Seller-specific tax relief is not the buyer’s bill","body":"LOOP and low-income or senior Real Estate Tax freezes depend on the qualifying owner and continued program eligibility; a buyer cannot assume the seller’s capped or frozen bill continues. A separately verified property abatement often remains with the property for its remaining term, but program-specific new-owner filing, use, and tax-compliance conditions still must be confirmed—not inferred from the reduced assessment alone.","action":"Have Revenue or OPA identify every current benefit, model the buyer’s bill without seller-specific relief, and confirm any verified abatement in writing.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/payments-assistance-taxes/payment-plans-and-assistance-programs/income-based-programs-for-residents/apply-for-the-longtime-owner-occupants-program-loop/","secondaryUrl":"https://www.phila.gov/services/payments-assistance-taxes/taxes/property-and-real-estate-taxes/get-real-estate-tax-relief/tax-freeze/"},{"title":"Seller disclosure and independent inspections","body":"For a covered Pennsylvania residential transfer, obtain the statutory seller disclosure. It reports the seller’s knowledge; it is not a warranty, title search, code review, or substitute for inspections. Because OPA dates this building before 1978, separately obtain the required federal/City lead disclosures and any test results.","action":"Have the agreement and disclosure reviewed for this transaction’s coverage and exceptions.","url":"https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/real-estate-commission"}]}