JimH5 (Indiana)
Posts: 17
Posts: 17
Posted:
I purchased and live in a development in Indiana. This development is four years old and was turned over to the owners a year ago. Ever since we have lived here(four years) problems have cropped up and I and others have complained, some issues were addressed by the builder but most were ignored. After the property was turned over to us we had an engineering report done and discovered not only code violations and faulty construction but also that no final Certificates of Occupancy had ever been applied for or issued. Some units were never inspected and some were issued TCO's, but no finals because the interior and exterior common areas were never inspected or failed the inspection. In other words the builder sold all of the units and none were approved for occupancy. The City has now inspected all of the units that were never inspected and a few of the units that had TCO's as well as the interior common areas of the condo building. They also inspected the commons areas around the condo building. All inspections failed just as they had durnig construction. The inspectors gave a long list to the builder represenative. The builder repaired all of the defects on the inside of the individal units and some specific items that the Fire Marshall cited. They now appear to be dragging their feet at the substantial costs that are going to involved in further repairs. The City has been working with us to force the builder to bring the property into compliance but I am starting to think it is not going to happen. There is now a problem of selling your home since a real estate disclosure form is required and who would buy your unit if there is a potential assessment that could be in the thousands. Also who would buy when there are known code violations? I have decided that if the buider doesn't fix I will file complaints with The Builders Association, The Better Business Bureau and The consumer Fraud Division of the State Attorney Generals Office. (I have extensive documentation to prove all I have said.) We were sold property that the builder knew did not meet code and had not been approved for occupancy, to me that is no different than fraud or theft. Thoughts and opinions.
Jim
Jim