Getting a GC for half-done properties with open violations

[Amy Davidson]

Hi all,

I've been struggling for months with this one. I have a property in Orlando, FL that I bought through a wholesalers/PM firm that said that they would handle the rehab and deliver me a lovely turn-key property.

I thought that all was fine, but two months after the tenants move in, I get a letter from Code Enforcement listing a number of past violations, the most important being that no one pulled permits for any of the work.

At this point, all the work had been completed.

The issue is, the workers the PM hired were not licensed GCs, and no one is taking any responsibility for the work. Naturally, I can sue the PM, but that's something for later. Now, I've called close to 30 GCs, including a family friend and a properly licensed GC that the PM recommended, and NO ONE will even look at the house because they don't want to be tainted as the bad guy who didn't pull permits.

So, my question is: There doesn't appear to be enough money in the world to get a GC to look at this house, how can I get Code Enforcement to not make me tear this house down and start over? Yes, I have spoken with the person in charge of this file every step of the way, and he knows how hard we're working to get someone to the house, but his response is along the lines of: "Hmmm, that's tough. You've already had two extensions."

Anyone have any practical advice? A nice success story from when you were in a similar boat?

[Wayne Brooks]

There is no "tainting" of someone coming in after the fact. They may just not want to get involved with something hard to estimate. You will have to submit plans, engineer stamped usually, for the work that was done, meeting building codes, apply for the permit, correct whatever work is not to code, then have it inspected. You may have to "open up", then repair, some of the work to inspect plumbing, electrical work, etc. that was done. What types of work exactly, were done without required permits?