This came up recently. The Evergrene HOA in Palm Beach Gardens as soo as a Property goes under contract they send out a representative to inspect the Property. If they find any violations then they send out a notice to the Owner AND they may even note it on the estoppel letter requested from the Closing Agent. Now what?
Noting the language of the base Far Bar As-Is Contract:
SELLER DISCLOSURE: Seller knows of no facts materially affecting the value of the Real Property which are not readily observable and which have not been disclosed to Buyer. Except as provided for in the preceding sentence, Seller extends and intends no warranty and makes no representation of any type, either express or implied, as to the physical condition or history of the Property. Except as otherwise disclosed in writing Seller has received no written or verbal notice from any governmental entity or agency as to a currently uncorrected building, environmental or safety code violation.
Unless Buyer exercises the right to terminate granted herein, Buyer accepts the physical condition of the Property and any violation of governmental, building, environmental, and safety codes, restrictions, or requirements, but subject to Seller’s continuing AS IS Maintenance Requirement, and Buyer shall be responsible for any and all repairs and improvements required by Buyer’s lender.
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE: Except for ordinary wear and tear and Casualty Loss, Seller shall maintain the Property, including, but not limited to, lawn, shrubbery, and pool, in the condition existing as of Effective Date (“AS IS Maintenance Requirement”).
From what I have been told and in my research assuming that the violations were in place as of the effective date then neither the base As Is Contract nor the HOA rider would provide the Buyer any recourse against the Seller to remedy any HOA violations.
The HOA recorded documents may however not allow a certificate of approval of the sale to be issued until the Property is brought into compliance and a certificate of approval is typically required by the Title Agent to prove compliance with the verbiage of the recorded documents that all sales be approved by the association.
