Purchased a Home with Undisclosed Unpermitted work

[jrs93]

Anyone in the neighborhood have experience with purchasing a home with unpermitted work? Was not disclosed during the purchase of the home and finding out after the sale.

Not sure if this worth pursuing an attorney or how painful it will be working with the city to get fixed. Thoughts? TIA

 

[PAWrocka]

Most home sale contracts are “As is”. Did you have a home inspection? If so, why didn’t your inspector catch it? or did you waive your inspection?

What kind of “work” are we talking about here? A whole addition? Or just like a unpermitted finished basement?

 

[scotchtiger]

Has anyone “caught” the unpermitted work? Vast majority goes unnoticed. I’ve done unpermitted work relative to finished areas in flood level and stuff in the critical buffer. Most people I know have as well.

 

[jrs93]

Recently discovered the issue when I submitted for a short term rental application with the City of Charleston. When reviewing the application, the city discovered the remodel of the home as well as the mother in law suite in the back were unpermitted. My plan upon purchasing was to live in the main 3bed/2ba house and airbnb the in law suite on weekends or when on out of town trips.

My wife and I purchased the home on 9/1/23. The unpermitted work was not stated on the sellers disclosure. We did have a full home inspection by a company called step by step. As far as I can tell, they did not address if the remodel was premitted/non-permitted.

The house was originally built in 1940. The mother in law suite in the back was originally a garage. They added sanitary line, kitchenette, and AC/heat. Seller purchased in early 2023 flipped it and placed it on the market. Have a bunch of documents if of interest to anyone.

@scotchtiger @PAWrocka thank you for the reply. Hope the details above answered some of your questions.

 

[Clemson Goat]

I have no experience / knowledge about this type of issue . What type of problems does the unpremitted work cause ?

 

[7tiget6]

Most home sale contracts are “As is”. Did you have a home inspection? If so, why didn’t your inspector catch it? or did you waive your inspection?

What kind of “work” are we talking about here? A whole addition? Or just like a unpermitted finished basement?

Every home inspection I’ve ever read was just one big “cover your @$$” letter. “Electrical seems to be in working order{not held responsible for what can’t be seen} plumbing is working order{not held responsible for whta can’t be seen}

OP. How new is the work? Chances are last owners didn’t know, someone claims to pull permits or they weren’t the owners that have the work done etc