Home › Forums › Closed Forums › Properties or Areas › Unpermitted addition on house I just bought
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January 24, 2012 at 3:30 PM #19460January 24, 2012 at 3:45 PM #736701UCGalParticipant
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this.
What type of thing was not to code? Is it things that are structural or safety issues? Like faulty wiring? I’d be worried about not bringing it up to at least a minimum safety standard.
As far as the unpermitted work – I don’t have any advice. I’ve heard of people getting “forgiveness” after the fact *if* it passes current code… but if it doesn’t you may be screwed.
It’s never good when you have to go to court and have lawyers involved.
January 24, 2012 at 3:57 PM #736703billfanParticipantHe just noted the unpermitted addition, saying that needs to be fixed asap (how the hell does one do a $60k job asap?) It’s the back half of the kitchen, the 3rd bedroom and back patio. He said based on his initial look, it’s not to code (it was added 20 years ago) and even doing a full investigation into how many violations there are would involve tearing up so much flooring, walls, and roofing….we “could” try to bring it up to code but since it’s a concrete slab foundation it would probably be cheaper to tear it all down (which you need permits for) and rebuild (which you need more permits for). The city inspector and supervising inspector that we called in both said the same thing. They are being so unreasonable and unrealistic it’s maddening. I feel like this is a perfect story for the Turko-files on KUSI where they expose horrible policies or people getting screwed over. All I did was buy a house, did my due diligence in looking at the tax records, and now I’m in danger of losing my house because I can’t afford these fixes, none of which I was responsible for doing. It’s such a horrible feeling that someone could get screwed like this.
January 24, 2012 at 3:58 PM #736704UCGalParticipantwhat jurisdiction are you in? (which county/city/township/whatever inspection/permit department are you dealing with?)
January 24, 2012 at 4:00 PM #736702NotCrankyParticipantThe city could be correct about the lack of permits or not. I would never take it with out trying to push all the buttons I could starting with backing them off the 10 days to remedy issue. If you take the tiger by the tail method, do everything in email, if they to respond with emails follow up with emails anyway. Write emails about everything you discuss to as many people as you can.
These people are not above a shakedown,not above withholding a more simple remedy from you, that they know about and that others have won.
Now go kick some ass.
January 24, 2012 at 4:02 PM #736705sdrealtorParticipantI’m not certain but believe certain title policies might cover some of this.
January 24, 2012 at 4:06 PM #736706billfanParticipantSan Diego County, The City of San Diego, North Park 92104. The inspector’s notice had this at the top:
Development Services Department
lnspection Services Division
9601 Ridgehaven Court, Suite 220January 24, 2012 at 7:50 PM #736723sdduuuudeParticipantYou need to hire a cross between an architect, a lawyer and a politician. Seriously. Find someone who deals with this stuff all the time and knows how to negotiate a deal with the city.
Jacarandoso is correct – there are ways around it that the government workers will never tell you about.
January 24, 2012 at 8:02 PM #736724mike92104ParticipantDid you have a home inspection done before you bought the house?
January 24, 2012 at 10:09 PM #736737moneymakerParticipantWhen I was looking @ houses 3 years ago I was appalled at how many had unpermitted additions and such. So you are not alone, don’t know if that makes you feel better or not. This may be why people don’t pull permits usually for small jobs. This thread reminds me why I may be doing my own electrical outlet for my recently purchased RV myself rather than hire an electrician. I think most contractors will probably give you 2 prices when doing things, with a permit and without a permit. Sounds like you are in a pickle now. So stop everything then 6 months from now do it all in a weekend so nobody notices. I’ve been to logan heights and I think everything down there is not permitted, yet the inspectors do nothing about it.
January 24, 2012 at 10:22 PM #736738mike92104ParticipantI do sympathize with you. You tried to do the right thing, and now you’re screwed. This permit nightmare you’re going through is exactly why people don’t get permits for work done to their houses.
January 25, 2012 at 9:27 AM #736754billfanParticipantYeah we had a home inspection and he found lots of little things, but didnt say anything (or didnt notice) about the addition. I had no idea, even looking through the house 3 times myself before buying it. But I’m told the home inspectors usually dont notice or say anything or are obligated to say anything. It doesnt really matter because I dont have any money to sue anyone. Best I can hope for is small claims court or mediation, not sure which is better though. I’m told that mediation is also binding so if that doesnt go well I may not have much other recourse. I have every line item of inspector findings, many of them we already had our contractor fix as a show of good faith (and at considerable additional cost…we’re already in the several thousands) even though the inspector refuses to sign off on my project. I’m going to take the full list down to the city to try to reason with someone and show that we fixed, or are fixing, everything he cited us for, where possible. He even cited us for the bedroom window being 3/4″ too high and wants the entire window lowered. Except for when completely cost prohibitive (mostly the addition he wants torn down) we made many of his changes, so I’m gonna hope that gets me some leniency with someone down at the inspection office. But since we already tried the supervising inspector (who is even worse than the original inspector) I’m not sure who else there is to reason with, but I’m gonna try.
January 25, 2012 at 10:00 AM #736756UCGalParticipantIt’s worth trying to negotiate with development services.
We had an issue with one interpretation of our project. We felt we met the letter and intent, and the initial reviewer did not. My husband was persistent, presented alternatives and compromises… We got our permit. But not without a lot of discussion.
(They made us jump through other hoops – but on the one issue that looked to kill our project from the start, they proved reasonable.)
If you are reasonable, and persistent, they will usually work with you.
January 25, 2012 at 10:02 AM #736757UCGalParticipantdup
January 25, 2012 at 10:08 AM #736758NotCrankyParticipantOn the window issue, tell the inspector you will raise the subfloor 3/4 of an inch. Wear them out.
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