Some Philly homeowners see a bonanza in Pope Francis visit

Pope Francis will be visiting Philadelphia,  and, where some see a chance to worship in the presence of the leader of the Catholic Church, others see a money-making opportunity.

From South Philly to Germantown, Philadelphians are thinking about renting out their houses during September’s papal visit.  

With so many visitors coming to the city, there will be a shortage of hotel beds, so why not rent out your rooms? 

“The code requires a housing inspection license when a property is offered for rent, so if someone’s actively marketing their home for rent on a short-term or a long-term basis, they would be required to get a license,” said Ralph DiPietro, the city’s deputy commissioner of operations with Licenses & Inspections.

However, “[t]hose may not apply to situations where they’re bringing folks in for such a short term, it’s a one-time event,” he said. “They may never get the license again, they may not need the license.”

DiPietro said homeowners may actually benefit from doing the proper rental paperwork — because it might help if they end up with a troublesome guest.

The department is focused on making sure landlords who rent out places on an ongoing basis are licensed. DiPietro said L&I also focuses on safety risks, including unlicensed boarding houses.