Lansdowne/Yeadon Mult-Unit Conversion ProgramLansdowne/Yeadon Mult-Unit Conversion ProgramIf you own or intend to purchase a multi-unit property, and would like to reduce or eliminate the extra units, Lansdowne and Yeadon Boroughs can assist you with the costs of conversion.
The program is limited to properties located within the neighborhood revitalization area, defined by the following boundaries: The SEPTA rail tracks paralleling Baltimore Avenue to the north; Lansdowne Avenue to the west; Baily Road to the south; and Union Avenue, Penn Avenue, and Industrial Park Drive to the east.
Eligible properties must be located within the area bounded by the SEPTA rail tracks paralleling Baltimore Avenue to the north; Lansdowne Avenue to the west; Baily Road to the south; and Union Avenue, Penn Avenue, and Industrial Park Drive to the east.
Priority will be given to projects that convert properties back to single-family homes. In addition, when complete, the property must meet all applicable Borough codes.
Forgivable loans are available for conversions as follows: up to $15,000 for removing one rental unit from the building; and up to $10,000 for the removal of each additional unit.
The program is limited to persons who intend to live in the unit for at least five years. 100% of the loan is forgivable provided the borrower lives in the home for a period of five consecutive years and there are no outstanding code violations upon completion of the project and for every year of the five-year loan. For each year the borrower lives in the property, 1/5 of the loan is forgiven. If you rent, sell or transfer the property to someone else during the five-year period, the balance of the remaining years of the loan must be repaid to the Borough.
The above application is applicable whether your property is in Yeadon or Lansdowne. You can also pick up an application at the Code Enforcement Department at Yeadon Borough Hall or Lansdowne Borough Hall. Once you complete and return the application, a Code Enforcement Officer will make an appointment to meet you at the property to review the project and make sure all the information needed for the application is complete and that the project meets the minimum qualifications.
The Code Enforcement Officer will work with you to identify any code violations that should be addressed in the scope of your project. If you are planning to have a contractor do the work, you will need to submit with your application estimates from at least three contractors. If you are doing the work yourself, you will need to get quotes from three suppliers (note that smaller items like nuts, bolts, and plumbing supplies that total no more than $500 need not be submitted with your estimate.).
Your completed application will then be reviewed. You will know within 60 days whether your project is approved for funding.
If your project is selected for funding, there will be loan documents you will need to sign, including:
Getting the Project Started Once the application is approved and the loan documentation is complete, you can get started on your project. Before you begin make sure you have a permit from the Code Enforcement Department. If you are using a contractor, you and he/she will need to sign a model agreement which will be supplied to you for this purpose. A copy of the signed agreement must be provided to the Borough. In addition, the contractor must be registered with the Borough.
Once these items are in place, and all the associated loan paperwork is complete, the Code Enforcement Department will issue you a notice to proceed. Your notice to proceed will include the time line for project completion that you included on your original application. If you start your project prior to the issuance of a notice to proceed, you do so at your own risk. The Borough is not obligated to make any payments for work done prior to issuing a notice to proceed. The notice to proceed will contain the Code Department's determination of the benchmarks which will be deemed 50% completion of the project.
The notice to proceed will include a benchmark, as determined by the Borough Code Enforcement Department, for 50% completion of the project. After 50% of the work is completed you can submit a request for payment to the Borough. Make an appointment with a Code Enforcement Officer to inspect the work and verify the completion of 50% of the project. If you are using a contractor, make sure he provides a detailed invoice listing the items he/she is billing you for (this is a requirement in the agreement between you and the contractor). If you are doing your own work, you will need to provide a similar detailed list to the Code Enforcement Officer of work completed. If you are using a contractor, payments will be made directly to the contactor once they are approved by the Borough.
Once approved, the Borough will make payment within 30 days. When the project is 100% complete, you can submit an invoice for final payment.
Each year of the five-year term of the loan, you will be required to complete a certificate of occupancy verifying that the property remains your primary residence. The Code Enforcement Officer will visit your home to verify the information in the certificate. In addition the Code Enforcement Office will make sure there are no code violations that need to be addressed.
For more information or to pick up an application, call the Yeadon Borough Code Enforcement Department at 610-284-3110 or the Lansdowne Borough Code Enforcement Department at 610-623-7300 x210.