Fire wall in the garage for FHA?

[andrew81]

garage firewalls are not an FHA requirement. i can not direct you to a link that says firewalls are not required because FHA guidelines do not tell us what is not required, only tell us what is required.

and here is recent guidance pertaining to code enforcement

http://portal.HUD.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=aqnas_03-20-13.pdf

Q: Do all additions have to permitted?

A: The FHA appraiser must only appraise the property they are observing and not enforce, interpret or determine building code. If there are health or safety issues observed, then only disclose those that are observed. Leave the code to a home inspector and the lender to deal with this.

Q: Please describe FHA`s definition of “Safety”. If I have a code problem which is a fire hazard, should I just disclose it in the report as-is or require to be fixed?

A: If there is a fire hazard, it is definitely a safety problem and considered a threat to health and safety of the occupants as well as to the structure. Any threat to safety or structure requires that the appraisal be completed as “subject to” repair or inspection.

Q: Does HUD have any requirements regarding Water Heaters, being strapped or connected to a drain line?

A: No. However if your local jurisdiction, or building code calls for it, you should make it a requirement.

 

[Doug Meyer]

What does the home inspector say? You did have an home inspection completed? I would say that if the home inspector seen no violation, then the HUD underwriter or the appraiser could remove the stipulation.

 

[Mr Rex]

A Home Inspector does not find "violations", they are not code inspectors. It would likely be pointed out as a potential safety hazard in a Home Inspection. Home Inspectors also can not require repairs, they only point out what "requires repair" to be in proper working order. A subtle but important difference.

 

[RSW]

A Home Inspector does not find "violations", they are not code inspectors. It would likely be pointed out as a potential safety hazard in a Home Inspection. Home Inspectors also can not require repairs, they only point out what "requires repair" to be in proper working order. A subtle but important difference.

Nice play on words: can not require repairs and requires repair.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

However, an appraiser could condition his/her appraisal on completion of certain repairs.

 

[Deleted member 128537]

Only the UW can require a repair on a conventional loan if they don't like it from a collateral aspect.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

Building and Safety requires repairs.
Now and then.

They can slap you upside the wallet if you don't comply.

 

[incognito]

Not required for FHA unless local code requires it.

NOOOO, Mich CG. I do not know how many times this question comes up, and it always gets the same answers, most of which are not correct. FHA DOES NOT require permits and DOES NOT require code compliance. PERIOD! FHA is abundantly clear on this.

Do the appraisal AS IS, report the condition in the report, and let the underwriter make the call. This is how FHA wants this handled!!! FHA is abundantly clear on this.

Remember what the OP's simple question was

"do you have to have a firewall in a garage for an FHA loan"

Simple answer: NO! Homes built prior to the 1990's in many areas did not have to have fire rated walls, by code. MOST homes built prior to the 1960's did not have fire rated walls. Are those who are stating here on this forum that the answer is "YES", also then stating that NO home built in these areas qualify for FHA financing? NO NO NO NO NO

This is SOOO simple!

 

[incognito]

Having tried to make that abundantly clear, if the underwriter makes the call that a fire wall is required, then the answer becomes Yes. The underwriter can call for anything they please, AND can override any of the appraisers requirements, as well. But it is inappropriate for the appraiser to make this call.