buying home with un permitted room addition

[Lenin Belangonda]

Hi, I am buying a home in southern california. This home has a bonus room that was converted into two bedrooms by constructing a wall in the middle with a door. There is no permit and also building codes were not considered. This is stated in the sellers disclosure which was not sent to me by my agent (by mistake). When i am asked to sign the disclosure i noticed this but i have release all contingencies alreaday and only few days left for the escrow closure. Is it ok to keep the unpermitted room as is. Is it still considered illegal if found even though i didnt make that construction. Appreiate any expert advice on this, thx.

[Account Closed]

Are you paying cash? A lender's appraiser would have likely noticed an un-permitted room division. You'll likely not run into any problems until you re-sell or refinance. You would have to disclose on it your re-sale. And an appraiser might notice it when refinancing. Or if you tried to rent it to a Sec8 tenant (government subsidized housing), it will likely be noticed by an inspector.

You're free to live there with it the way it is. The work was un-permitted. It's not illegal as in committing a crime. You'd want to make sure it's structurally sound and that any elec. wiring is safe though.