Click any of the topics below to view our policy statements:
Assessments
Private Property Rights
Rental Property Inspections
Realty Transfer Tax
Sign Ordinances
Occupancy Ordinances
ASSESSMENTS
Background
Pennsylvania has no standardized system of assessing property value, thus processes vary widely from county to county. Within each county, assessment values vary from municipality to municipality. Allegheny County residents and businesses pay higher property taxes than residents from each of the surrounding counties, thus putting it at an economic and competitive disadvantage.
Position
RAMP supports the fair, equitable, and uniform assessment of property on a statewide basis. RAMP opposes any county and municipal policy that would provide for bias assessments, such as “spot assessments” when properties are sold.
Approved by the Government Affairs Committee: January 16, 2009
Approved by the Board of Directors: February 12, 2009
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PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS
Background
The right to private property is one of the most important and inherent rights of citizens. As an organization representing REALTORS®, RAMP believes that individuals have the right to acquire and own property without government infringement. Though the United States Constitution does permit the government to acquire private property for “public use,” the government taking of private property must be carefully examined to ensure that the government is not overly encroaching on citizens’ rights.
Position
RAMP adamantly supports an individual’s right to ownership of real property. RAMP will oppose any governmental action to weaken this right. RAMP recognizes that governments have responsibilities to the public which may necessitate the need for land for “public use”. However, RAMP will work to ensure that the government’s right detailed under the “Takings Clause” of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution is not abused.
Approved by the Government Affairs Committee: January 16, 2009
Approved by the Board of Directors: February 12, 2009
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RENTAL PROPERTY INSPECTIONS
Background
Over the past few years, many municipalities have considered and/or adopted rental property inspection programs. While the intent of these local ordinances is to ensure the safety of residents within the municipality, inspection ordinances place an undue burden on rental property owners, and therefore the renters themselves. REALTORS® understand that buyers evaluate properties on multiple levels. These may be attracted to investing in properties in other municipalities without such ordinances because of the additional time and monetary burden of this program, thus inspection programs will make rental properties unattractive to potential buyers and investors. Furthermore, mandating rental property inspections is an excessive infringement on the private property rights of a single class of property owners. Many municipalities already have enacted comprehensive codes. Townships and boroughs should work to enforce these existing codes on all properties to ensure that all residents, not just renters, live in safe and healthy conditions.
Position
RAMP supports working with local municipalities to draft ordinances to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all residents and property owners. RAMP believes that municipalities can enact legislation to ensure resident safety while not placing an undue burden on a select portion of the population, such as rental property owners and renters.
Approved by the Government Affairs Committee: January 16, 2009
Approved by the Board of Directors: February 12, 2009
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REALTY TRANSFER TAX
Background
The realty transfer tax (RTT) is a tax assessed on the value of any property at the time when the property exchanges hands. The revenue generated from this tax is divided between the state, local municipality and local school district. There are two primary reasons why the RTT is not a good funding source for these government entities: 1) it is unstable because it is only imposed when property is sold, and 2) it is a major burden to buyers and sellers of all types of real property, particularly at the time of closing.
Position
RAMP adamantly opposes realty transfer taxes either being raised or imposed, because it has negative impact on housing costs and the industry as a whole.
Approved by the Government Affairs Committee: January 16, 2009
Approved by the Board of Directors: February 12, 2009
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SIGN ORDINANCES
Background
Advertising the sale of property is essential to the livelihood of the real estate industry. In recent years more and more municipalities have incorporated a sign policy into their comprehensive land use ordinances. Usually, sign policies include exemptions for certain signs, including real estate signs. Nevertheless, the municipality could amend its policy in the future to place more restrictions on real estate signs.
Position
RAMP opposes any county or municipal ordinance that would restrict or hinder REALTORS® from placing signs on a “for sale” property or from placing directional signs to navigate potential buyers to a “for sale” property.
Approved by the Government Affairs Committee: January 16, 2009
Approved by the Board of Directors: February 12, 2009
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OCCUPANCY ORDINANCES
Background
RAMP supports the development and enforcement of reasonable use and occupancy criteria for all types of real property. We believe that occupancy criteria should be standardized, limited to true health and safety issues, and foster rather than inhibit the successful exchange of real property between a buyer and seller. RAMP opposes use and occupancy ordinances which require the correction of code violations as a condition of issuing a use and occupancy certificate. RAMP believes preventing the sale or transfer of ownership because use and occupancy violations were not corrected prior to the sale or transfer of ownership violates P.L. 724-99 (Pennsylvania Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act), section 3, subsection (e), which states in relevant part:
...a municipality shall not refuse to issue a use and occupancy certificate or similar permit on the basis of a substantial violation or require the correction of a substantial violation as a condition to issuing a use and occupancy certificate or similar permit, unless the substantial violation renders the property unfit for habitation.
Approved by the Government Affairs Committee: January 16, 2009
Approved by the Board of Directors: February 12, 2009
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