Serious Structural Problems

[bopper]

I purchased my house about 6 years ago. I purchased it FHA and Structural, Electrical, Termite, Plumbing/Heating etc. inspections were required. The Seller paid for all inspections. The only problems noted from inspections was " some termite and some insulation needed in the attic." A termite treatment was done and insulation was blown in. This is in Indiana.
MY PROBLEM: Since I have moved into the house I have found serious problems:
1. The wiring is the old "BALL & KNOB" wiring. The service is 60 amp and 100 amp was required by FHA.
2. The foundation sill on the north wall and the east and west walls are completely deteriorated and need replaced.
3. The blown in insulation was only blown in where visible. (not to spec)
4. The roof has 6 to 7 rows of shingles of which the weight is causing the roof to bow and pull the rafters apart.
5. Structural (wall) damage due to the roof leaking for years.
6. Floor joist damage.
7. Rafter damage.
ETC.

Is there anything I can do legally? FHA required all of these inspections and I trusted the professionals inspections. Now that I have moved into the house I find that I am going to have to spend serious money to repair what the inspectors said was OK.

[This message has been edited by bopper (edited July 03, 2000).]

 

[HomeGuru]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bopper:
I purchased my house about 6 years ago. I purchased it FHA and Structural, Electrical, Termite, Plumbing/Heating etc. inspections were required. The Seller paid for all inspections. The only problems noted from inspections was " some termite and some insulation needed in the attic." A termite treatment was done and insulation was blown in. This is in Indiana.
MY PROBLEM: Since I have moved into the house I have found serious problems:
1. The wiring is the old "BALL & KNOB" wiring. The service is 60 amp and 100 amp was required by FHA.
2. The foundation sill on the north wall and the east and west walls are completely deteriorated and need replaced.
3. The blown in insulation was only blown in where visible. (not to spec)
4. The roof has 6 to 7 rows of shingles of which the weight is causing the roof to bow and pull the rafters apart.
5. Structural (wall) damage due to the roof leaking for years.
6. Floor joist damage.
7. Rafter damage.
ETC.

Is there anything I can do legally? FHA required all of these inspections and I trusted the professionals inspections. Now that I have moved into the house I find that I am going to have to spend serious money to repair what the inspectors said was OK.

[This message has been edited by bopper (edited July 03, 2000).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yours is one of numerous FHA cases throughout the US. It appears that there was a racket going on and the FHA real estate appraiser and most of the other inspectors could be liable for faulty inspections. You need to hire an attorney to file suit against all the parties for fraud. Have him/her check the statute of limitations. HUD is acutely aware of the problem in general with FHA inspections (some were just drive-by's) and that is why a recent program was put into place by HUD called the Homebuyers Protection Program. Check it out at www.hud.gov FHA appraisers now face criminal sanctions for not following the HUD standards for an FHA appraisal inspection.

The termite and the roof damage may be a little more difficult to prove since so many years have passed. The electrical is a slam-dunk since the knob and tube wiring and 60 amps service is still in place.

In the future even if the Seller pays for the inspections, it is wise to hire your own home inspector.