Egress window requirements

[Maryep99]

I am currently under contract to sell my house to someone getting an FHA loan. The appraisal came back, but noted this under MPR items.
We bought our house from my parents-in-law and they had an FHA loan. This has never been a problem before. Our windows are single hung and the openings on are roughly 20”x23” on each side separated by a piece down the middle. House was built in ‘78.

Basically, is there any way around getting these windows replaced?

 

[Airstream]

In order to meet baseline requirements, egress windows must meet the following standards: Minimum width of opening: 20 in. Minimum height of opening: 24 in. Minimum net clear opening: 5.7 sq.

So I had a similar problem with a house I thought did not meet ingress/egress window requirements. However, the exit from the bedroom was close enough to the exterior door so that it still met code. I discovered this after I talked to a building inspector. This is Wisconsin. Georgia may be different. But I would get a building inspector’s (not home inspector) opinion on your house. If he signs off you are good to go. Good luck. The reason I would get a building inspector is because they are more aware of recent codes.

 

[Mark K]

If the appraiser had a clue what he was doing, he'd say that the windows were code compliant when the house was built and the windows are grandfathered. Maybe your area requires an older home to be brought up to today's codes when sold but I doubt it. There have been thousands of homes in this area that have sold with FHA financing with windows that don't meet current codes; no problem. They met code when they were built.

Your house was built in 1978 and it met code back then or else the inspector would have flagged it back then. Codes change all the time, you don't have to rebuild the house every time they change.

 

[glenn walker]

I WANT TO ASK APPRAISER TO CITE ANYWHERE IN HUD.. 4000.1 on minimum window size ? HE CAN'T

 

[Dublin ohio]

If being up to "code" was an FHA mpr. Some 10 year old properties wouldn't qualify. One example is arc fault circuit breakers. They were not required in most rooms until 2017.

There have been thousands of homes in this area that have sold with FHA financing with windows that don't meet current codes; no problem. They met code when they were built.

Same around here.

 

[Airstream]

I WANT TO ASK APPRAISER TO CITE ANYWHERE IN HUD.. 4000.1 on minimum window size ? HE CAN'T

I am surprised the appraiser actually measured the windows!!! If I saw a window that was 20x23 I would give it a pass for sure. I wouldn’t think of measuring it. This has to be something very area specific. I never measured windows…EVER. I did however ding homes in the basement on ingress/egress windows if they were too high off the floor or too small to call something a bedroom.

 

[glenn walker]

We just disqualified millions of homes in Los Angeles County Built between 1930 and 1980. Lol

 

[Airstream]

Ground floor windows: Fire escape windows are required on the ground floor in any habitable room (not a kitchen or bathroom) which does not open into a hall that leads directly to an exit door.

This is what I referred to earlier. So for example, in a walkout basement an egress/ingress window is not necessary if the hallway leads directly to the exit.

 

[sputnam]

If the appraiser had a clue what he was doing, he'd say that the windows were code compliant when the house was built and the windows are grandfathered. Maybe your area requires an older home to be brought up to today's codes when sold but I doubt it. There have been thousands of homes in this area that have sold with FHA financing with windows that don't meet current codes; no problem. They met code when they were built.

Your house was built in 1978 and it met code back then or else the inspector would have flagged it back then. Codes change all the time, you don't have to rebuild the house every time they change.

Right.... 'Grandfathered' is a thing.

 

[ucbruin]

I never label a finished room located in the basement as a "bedroom"....
Never....