Selling a house involves a lot of paperwork, and before closing on your property, you need a final certificate of occupancy. Can you sell a house without a certificate of occupancy without being out of compliance?
At My Tennessee Home Solution, we buy houses in Nashville, TN, so we’re familiar with the city’s certificate-of-occupancy rules. Our guide below explains them in detail.
What Is a Certificate of Occupancy?
A certificate of occupancy is one of the essential documents homeowners need. It serves as written verification that the building in question meets all relevant building codes and is safe to occupy.
Acquiring a CO takes more than a signature on a piece of paper. Several Nashville-based departmental approvals and inspections are also required to receive the certificate.
Having the document isn’t just important for sellers who need to show that their property is habitable. It’s also essential for buyers who need a home loan to purchase a house. Many lenders are hesitant to issue mortgages for properties without a final certificate of occupancy.
Can you sell a house without a certificate of occupancy? It depends. Some municipalities require properties to have a certificate of occupancy any time its owner or renter changes, while others don’t require COs for every residential home.
When Home Sale Compliance Requires a Certificate of Occupancy
Not all houses need a CO to list them for sale. You may need the documentation if your property meets the following criteria:
- You’re converting the property from one use to another.
- You’ve made significant renovations requiring adherence to local building codes.
- The house you want to sell is a new construction.
- Your area requires a CO for a new homeowner or tenant.
All Nashville homes require a valid CO before anyone can legally occupy them. The process requires completing and submitting an application, supporting documentation, and the fee before scheduling an inspection.
Do You Have To Make the Repairs on the Certificate of Occupancy Inspection?
The in-depth CO inspection becomes part of your selling-home documentation. It’ll include mandated repairs, which are unlike lender home inspections, which feature negotiable house repairs. You can’t have a certificate of occupancy inspection and ignore the repairs to sell the property.
An alternative for Nashville homeowners may be to sell to a cash home buyer. When selling to a cash buyer, you can transfer ownership of your property without making repairs or renovations. The buyer streamlines the selling process and assumes responsibility for repairs, inspections, and paperwork.
Sell Your Home Fast With Our Professional Solutions
Can you sell a house without a certificate of occupancy? Selling without inspections or a certificate of occupancy isn’t allowable in Nashville, Tennessee. However, selling your home to an experienced cash buyer, such as My Tennessee Home Solution, can make the process easier and less stressful.
Our veteran-owned and operated company buys houses for cash. We make fair cash offers on properties regardless of their condition or the homeowners’ situation. Our professionals are knowledgeable of property occupancy requirements and real estate legal standards for Nashville. To begin, call My Tennessee Home Solution at (615) 933-5431.
