What Does It Mean When a House Gets Condemned?

• By We Buy Killeen Houses
• 25 July 2021

A condemned house is a home violating local building codes that the government considers dangerous to live in. Living in a condemned house is forbidden unless all the problems are fixed by its owner within a certain period of time. Until the problems are corrected, the house’s occupants must stay somewhere else. 

How Does a Property Get Condemned?

There are many reasons why a house gets condemned, but here is a list of the most common:

• The house has been abandoned by its owners for a certain amount of years, which is causing safety concerns.
• The living conditions are unsanitary.
• The utilities are discontinued, including air-conditioning, heating, and plumbing.
• The house was seriously damaged by weather catastrophes.
• There is extensive termite damage.
• The house has black mold.
• The house was built with unsafe materials.
• The house has dangerous or improper electrical systems.

Can Your City Condemn a House?

Yes, your city is allowed to condemn a property. And there are two main reasons for that: 

• Violation of the local building codes.
• Public use, which means that the city is going to use the location for public purposes, such as creating a road, park, or any other public space. 

Is It Possible to Save a Condemned House?

Usually, the government wants you to save your condemned property. However, the ability to save it depends on certain factors, including money, time, the level of repairs, and their costs. However, if the cost of repairs exceeds 50% of the actual cost of the house, then your city can raze the property. If you do not agree with this decision and do not want to leave the house, then it can be razed at your own expense. 

The good news is that many condemned properties can be renovated, and the condemned status of a house can be reversed. In order to do this, you must fix all the problems and then pass an inspection. If the inspection is passed, you will get a new certificate of occupancy, meaning that the property is livable again. 

The Code Requirements for Houses

In order to be considered livable again, a house must provide the following:

• Safe electrical systems and outlets
• Heat
• Air-conditioning
• Plumbing
• Ventilation
• Light fixtures

If a house is rented, it is also required to be clean, pest free, and be in good structural condition. 

Can You Sell a Condemned House? 

If your house becomes condemned because of violations of the local building codes, you may decide it is not worth making repairs. The best solution would be to sell the house, but there are certain things you need to consider. First, unfortunately, if the problems are not fixed in the house, you cannot sell it as a structure, meaning that repairs are necessary. However, you are allowed to sell the lot that your home is on, so you will need to find buyers who want to demolish the house or renovate it themselves. 

There is another option — selling your condemned property for cash. There are many companies and home investors who buy condemned houses. The main advantage of this method is that you do not need to spend any money on repairs or renovations because they purchase homes as is. 

Sell Your Condemned Property to We Buy Killeen Houses 

If you own a condemned house in Killeen, TX, or any other nearby town that you want to sell as fast as possible while avoiding all the expensive fixes and repairs, We Buy Killeen Houses is the company you need. We purchase all types of properties, in any condition and any location. We have experience dealing with condemned properties as well, so we are ready to buy your house. 

Our mission is to make the selling process easy, stress free, and hassle free for you. If you need more information about how it works, or you have any questions, feel free to visit our website or give us a call.