A common question asked after a home inspection is what repairs are required after a home inspection?
There are only a few things, and some depend on where the home is located.
Let’s look at which repairs are required after a home inspection.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Effective since July 2011, all homes sold in California must have smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector installed at the time of sale.
The location of smoke was covered in depth in our previous article Smoke Detector Locations and Why They Beep at 2:00 AM
In short, A smoke detector is required in every bedroom, and in the hallway or room leading to a bedroom. And at least one per floor.
There should also be at least one carbon monoxide detector per floor, in the vicinity of all bedrooms. Meaning, if there are bedrooms that are separated by a kitchen, then two carbon monoxide detectors would be required. But if all the bedrooms are off the same hallway, then one carbon monoxide detector per floor is required.
Smoke and carbon monoxide combination carbon detectors are acceptable.
Water Heater Straps
Under the California Health and Safety Code, Article 8, all sellers must certify their water heater is properly strapped at the time of sale.
The California plumbing code stateß
507.2 Seismic Provisions
“Water heaters shall be anchored or strapped to resist horizontal displacement due to earthquake motion. Strapping shall be at points within the upper one third (1/3) and lower one-third (1/3) of its vertical dimensions.
Note, the law does not say anything about the seller making sure the water heater is functional, or otherwise installed correctly. Read more about water heaters in our article Top 10 Myths of Water Heater Installations. Note that tankless water heaters do NOT have to be strapped.
Window Glazing
The City of Los Angeles also has specific requirements for sliding doors
Existing glazing of the glass in every sliding glass panel of a sliding-type door, other than wardrobe doors, bathrooms shower doors and French-type doors shall be impact hazard glazing. If not, then such shall be replaced with impact hazard glazing or an approved film shall be installed on the glass (LAMC 91.R308, 91.6101).
Though patio doors that do not already have impact hazard glazing are becoming rare in Southern California.
Earthquake Gas Shut Off Valves
This rule only applies to the 120 districts and neighborhoods that make up the City of Los Angeles, as well as the cities of Malibu, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood. Other areas are currently exempt from this being a seller requirement, though we do recommend them regardless.
Earthquake shut-off valves, also known as seismic shut-off valves, are devices that stop the flow of gas in a home in the event of an earthquake. They are usually located on or near the gas meter of a home.
You read how they work, and why they are recommended for all gas meters everywhere in our previous article Earthquake Gas Shut Off Valves
Can a seller refuse to make repairs?
Beyond the above items, no other repairs are required or mandatory after a home inspection.
Installing GFCIs? No, not required for the seller to do.
Bad duct work? No, the seller has no legal obligation to replace it.
What about the new pool fence law? A seller must have to pay for that, right? No, actually, the seller is not mandated by the law to install a pool fence.
The house can be falling apart, or on fire, or otherwise unsafe to live in, and they can still sell it to you. Outside of the above items, a seller can indeed refuse to make repairs.
To read more about what happens next after a home inspection, read Does the Seller Have To Pay For Repairs?
Book your inspection now by calling 818-298-3405 or book online here!