How Building Scores Work
We analyze violations, complaints, and building data to calculate a quality score for every building in Philadelphia. Here's how it works.
The Basics
Every Philadelphia building receives a 0-99.5 score using our sophisticated 18-category weighted algorithm — the same approach used for NYC. This ensures no two buildings have exactly the same score.
- ✓1.4M+ L&I violations with time decay (recent issues matter more)
- ✓1M+ 311 complaints from residents and neighbors
- ✓627K+ building permits for renovation intelligence
- ✓Crime data from Philadelphia PD (600K+ incidents)
- ✓SEPTA transit proximity to BSL, MFL, and Regional Rail
- ✓Internet speeds from Ookla speedtest data
Why Buildings Have Different Scores
Our scoring system includes anti-clustering features so buildings don't all end up with the same score:
⏱️ Time Decay
Recent violations (last 6 months) = full impact. Issues from 5+ years ago = 3% impact.
🏛️ Building Differentiation
A 100-year-old building with zero violations is more impressive than a 5-year-old one.
📍 Neighborhood Adjustment
-3 to +3 points based on walkability, transit, and amenities. Center City = +3, etc.
🔢 Unique Fingerprint
Each building gets a unique ±0.3 adjustment for ranking tie-breaks.
Score Components
The overall score is a weighted average of these component scores:
Safety Score
3.0×Critical L&I violations, fire safety issues, lead hazards. Highest weight - safety is paramount.
Maintenance Score
2.5×Major/minor violations with time decay. Recent issues matter more than old ones.
Track Record Score
2.5×Overall history - open violations, total violations, per-unit density, data confidence.
Freeze Risk Score
2.0×Heat issues across multiple heating seasons. Chronic heat problems hurt scores significantly.
Pest Score
2.0×Actual pest infestations (not paperwork). Bedbugs, roaches, mice, and rats.
Lead/Toxic Risk
2.0×Age-based lead paint risk. Pre-1920 buildings score lower; post-1986 score higher.
Responsiveness
1.5×How quickly landlords resolve violations. High resolution rate = higher score.
Compliance
1.5×L&I case status - failed cases and high-priority violations reduce score.
Groundhog Day
1.5×Recurring issues at the same address. Same problem 5+ times = major penalty.
Neighborhood Watch
1.5×311 complaints from neighbors - building issues, sanitation, pest reports.
Crime Safety
1.2×Nearby crime incidents. Uses Philadelphia PD data for area safety assessment.
Elevator Status
1.2×Elevator issues in buildings 5+ floors. Open elevator violations = major penalty.
Rogue Builder
1.0×Illegal work without permits. Multiple unpermitted work violations = red flag.
Renovation Intel
0.8×Permit activity vs violations. Good landlords maintain buildings proactively.
Internet Quality
0.5×Ookla speedtest data. Fast, reliable internet improves quality of life.
Water Quality
0.5×Lead pipe risk based on building age. Pre-1920 = higher risk.
Transit Access
0.4×SEPTA proximity - BSL, MFL, Regional Rail, and trolley access.
Property Value
0.3×Market value context. Very low values may indicate neglect.
Letter Grades
What Violations We Track
| Category | Examples | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Safety | Smoke detectors, fire escapes, sprinklers | Critical |
| Structural | Foundation issues, cracks, unsafe conditions | Critical |
| Plumbing | Leaks, drainage, water pressure | Moderate |
| Electrical | Wiring issues, outlets, lighting | Moderate |
| Heat/Hot Water | No heat, broken boiler, hot water issues | High |
| Pests | Roaches, bedbugs, mice, rats | Moderate |
| General Maintenance | Broken fixtures, paint, flooring | Low |
Data Sources
All data comes from official Philadelphia city sources:
- 📊Philadelphia L&I - Licenses & Inspections violations and permits
- 📞Philly 311 - Service requests and complaints
- 🏠OPA - Office of Property Assessment data
- 🚇SEPTA - Transit proximity data
Data is updated regularly to reflect the latest city records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my building have a low score?
Low scores typically indicate a history of violations, complaints, or recurring issues. Our 18-category system considers recent violations more heavily than old ones. Check the building's detail page to see specific issues like pest problems, heat complaints, or unresolved maintenance violations.
Can a building improve its score?
Yes! Due to our time decay feature, old violations naturally matter less over time. When violations are resolved and no new issues arise, scores improve. Buildings with responsive management that fix issues quickly tend to maintain better scores.
Is a 100 score possible?
No — the maximum score is 99.5. This is intentional: even buildings with zero violations face adjustments based on data confidence, building age, and neighborhood. A 100-year-old building with no violations gets credit for maintaining that record, while a brand-new building hasn't yet proven itself.
Why do similar buildings have different scores?
Our anti-clustering features ensure natural differentiation: neighborhood livability adjustments (-3 to +3), building age/size difficulty factors, time decay on violations, and unique building fingerprints for tie-breaking. Two buildings with identical violation counts will still have different scores based on these factors.
Should I avoid all low-score buildings?
Not necessarily. Some issues may be resolved, or the specific unit you're considering may be unaffected. Use the score as a starting point for research. A building with a 70 score due to old, resolved issues is very different from one with active, ongoing problems.