Retaining wall railing?

[Pittsburg_22_m]

I'm sure they're gonna lose their **** if I require any of these things. That retaining wall is about 6 feet off the ground. Needs a 36" rail or fence?

And the porch railing is 22" tall. Code is 36". But it would obscure the window. This is a VA loan. What do you guys think?

 

[glenn walker]

Seems heavy handed- been like that for years and not a issue - I say no and Move on

 

[Tiffany Gibbons]

I'm sure they're gonna lose their **** if I require any of these things. That retaining wall is about 6 feet off the ground. Needs a 36" rail or fence?

And the porch railing is 22" tall. Code is 36". But it would obscure the window. This is a VA loan. What do you guys think?


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I would ask a VA senior review appraiser (send to general RLC email or call in). I had a similar property in a very rural county with no code enforcement. I sent in the photos and he told me what to require (it did need railing on porch) but the retaining wall is another matter. He told me to quote him if I was given any problems. They are responding very quickly to emails and this is not in the Lenders Handbook.

 

[Pittsburg_22_m]

I would ask a VA senior review appraiser (send to general RLC email or call in). I had a similar property in a very rural county with no code enforcement. I sent in the photos and he told me what to require (it did need railing on porch) but the retaining wall is another matter. He told me to quote him if I was given any problems. They are responding very quickly to emails and this is not in the Lenders Handbook.

I haven't ran into this in probably a decade or more (the wall...railing is common occurrence). I've only emailed them once in like 6 years and they just told me to look at the handbook. Like...thanks, guys. lol I'll give that a shot.

 

[Pittsburg_22_m]

Seems heavy handed- been like that for years and not a issue - I say no and Move on

I somewhat agree. But I don't make the rules. I'll def ask and defer to them.

 

[James Mpls]

I haven't ran into this in probably a decade or more (the wall...railing is common occurrence). I've only emailed them once in like 6 years and they just told me to look at the handbook. Like...thanks, guys. lol I'll give that a shot.

Guess it really is different from RLC to RLC; Saint Paul RLC is very, very helpful for odd situations like this.

 

[Surf Cat]

That's a very odd addictomy to the front of the original lower wall. It's like they built a higher wall instead of taking Dirt away and matching the lower wall.

What's directly across the street? A school, warehouse, or factory of some sort?

 

[Tiffany Gibbons]

Guess it really is different from RLC to RLC; Saint Paul RLC is very, very helpful for odd situations like this.

Atlanta RLC is usually happy to help us. I don't usually bother them if I can find it in the handbook. If I think I may get pushback, I put that page of the handbook in my exhibits.

 

[Zoe]

I would ask a VA senior review appraiser (send to general RLC email or call in). I had a similar property in a very rural county with no code enforcement. I sent in the photos and he told me what to require (it did need railing on porch) but the retaining wall is another matter. He told me to quote him if I was given any problems. They are responding very quickly to emails and this is not in the Lenders Handbook.

They are sharp in Atlanta. They don't care who it upsets. It is their way or the highway.

That way you are covered. Don't worry about who it upsets. If VA is happy. You can be happy.

You can look at reverse. If VA is not happy, you won't be happy. Forget everybody else.

I can tell you have concerns over safety issues. I can almost guarantee you the RLC will share your concerns. CYA. Subject to and move on.

It is not that much money to fix when you look at big picture. Seller, buyer, agent or whoever can fix it. Code enforcement would be on your side. It's a no brainer almost. "subject to repair".

You can sleep well tonight and not absorb liability you don't need to absorb.

Safety issues are things you don't play around with. VA won't either.

 

[Tom D]

i don't think it is a local code to have a wall railing there. if nobody else has it, it's accepted by buyers & local codes.
the porch handrail is sufficient to keep anyone from falling off. are you strictly going by code on everything you saw in the house?