1st Property Purchased-OPEN CODE VIOLATIONS!

[Matthew Perry]

We bought our first rental property,  a triplex (home converted to 3 separate units) after several months of searching for the best deal. We found out after that this property has several open code violations and 1 or 2 of these are going to cost between $20-$60k each. We had an inspection done, but they don't pull codes. We did not use an attorney because no one we had talked to told us that was needed. We bought AS-IS but I know there is some law(s) in place to not let this happen. We were supposed to be notified! Anyone had this happen?? It's a mess! We have now the city legal department after us to get these completed because the previous owner just stopped responding to them and sold us the property. BEWARE and always check on the property you are buying if there are open code violations! We are 3 hours away from Chicago and I know for a fact that a sale of a property can't even take place with code violations open. So how did this happen?? I need this to be a topic on Seeing Greene lol. Please let me know any advice you have! We are in central Illinois.

[Ray Hage]

I am sure it varies by state to state and city to city but here in Fort Lauderdale, you can definitely sell or buy a house with open code violations. I got some more bad news for you. Assume you fix those violations and there are more that you and the city are not aware of, you may get hit with more violations so my advice to you is to speak with whoever inspected your home that all the things he checked would in compliance with the city. If you really want to be sure, hire someone who specializes in this. A friend of mine down here got hit with code violations 6 months after he bought the house because the previous owner put on addition to the home. 

My advice is through the city website, see what you can find out what the home really was. For example, if it was a SFH that got converted into a triplex without permits, you can bet there will be other code issues like plumbing or electric. You're in a tough situation and now you will need to dig your way out. Speak with the city and see if they will lower the fines if you comply within 6 months. Here in south Florida, they are generally fair in giving time and breaks to a new owner who was caught unaware of a situation.