Question:
“I know the seller has to fix health and safety items, but don’t they also have to fix code violations?”
Answer:
No, no, and no.
There are very few physical requirements a homeseller in San Diego County is legally required to meet, and those don’t include health, safety, or code items.
Here’s the short list:
- Operative smoke detectors in all sleeping areas
- Operative carbon monoxide detector in all sleeping areas
- Earthquake straps on the water heater
That’s it.
But, you might ask, what about termites and toilets? Don’t you have to take care of those?
No and no.
There is no law requiring a termite clearance, though it is typically expected by homebuyers and agents.
And the City of San Diego used to require toilets to be low flow at closing. That was changed many years ago, allowing the seller to “transfer responsibility” to the buyer, who must comply within 90 days.
That’s it.
