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Are you kidding, before I get to the first stoplight, they will be going back in. At least they know it is considered a hazard. I have had borrwers take them off while I waited.
The most common one I have seen around here is a turn handle in the interior wall. I guess California requires foot pedals. I often see chains and padlocks installed as well. I am going to condition the report on the removal of the locks. I am also researching for a minimum size for the opening? Any thoughts on that one?
I don't think it's a state or local code issue. A key is definitely not acceptable to FHA as a quick release mechanism, because keys can be lost and people can die in a fire.
When you say a turn handle, do you mean that you can loosen one or two bolts to open the security windows? If they are the same type I have seen, they can take a minute or more to get off, and those are also not acceptable for FHA, at least in my experience. I had one like that last month, and they were required to be removed. A quick-release mechanism means really quick, like 5 seconds or less to remove.
8 or 10 years ago, it was FHA policy that if there were security bars on bedroom windows, then quick-release mechanisms would have to be installed. It wasn't allowed that the security bars could be removed, because FHA thought that the bars would be re-installed right after the loan closed, without the quick releases, and the safety hazard would remain. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore. They are allowing security bars on windows to be removed now, (or at least some lenders are allowing this).
