No Permits - Buyer Will Be Responsible if Sold As-Is?

[Erin Murphy]

Good morning all,

Looking for a little advice since I haven’t sold a home in this condition before.

My seller had work done without permits years ago… basement with bathroom, whole kitchen and upstairs bathroom. Now that she’s looking to sell, it is my understanding that she will either have to revise the issues herself, or sell the home as-is.

If she sells as-is and discloses the issues, the buyers will then have to assume the responsibilities such as paying the possible fines, getting the work up to code, etc., correct?

Thank you in advance!

[Jonathan Greene]

Basically, do not list this house and think it won't be a disaster. I've dealt with this a million times. In regard to plumbing and electrical first, if work was done without a permit, the walls need to be re-opened to inspect the plumbing and electric behind the walls which is typically done at a rough inspection by the town. Most towns are more inclined now to make you cap it and lose the bathroom because it did not exist on the town card and was done without permits. The basement bathroom will not run with the house for sure and will need to be capped. So, the main problem is that your seller thinks they have a renovated house, but they do not. For the kitchen and the bathroom that already existed, if it was all cosmetic, it's fine. If they moved plumbing or added electrics, it's a problem. If the work was done by a licensed contractor, they could try to permit it now, but as I said the walls have to be opened to do the rough inspection no matter what.