PERHAPS HELPFUL:
GOOGLED:
a home to be purchased with an FHA insured mortgage which features burglar bars on the windows is
regulated by an FHA rule which states the bars must allow the occupants safe exit in case of fire. That rule is found in FHA Handbook 4150.2, Section 3-6B6.
AND:
HUD guidelines are concerned with the
Minimum Property Requirements of a property which include safety, soundness, and security. As crazy as it sounds security bars falls in the safety category rather than security. This is because they relate to the health and safety of the occupants. According to HUD handbook 4150.2:
Read more
https://birminghamappraisalblog.com/appraisal/FHA-rule-for-security-bars/
AND:
an opinion post:
The only time I believe that the appraiser would require more is when local building codes were more strict than HUD. Homes must meet local codes so that would supersede any HUD requirements.
Read more
https://birminghamappraisalblog.com/appraisal/FHA-rule-for-security-bars/
Any Window, basement or not: must have at a minimum ONE operable window. Exception PErhaps: bedroom door has safety egress to the outside FROM the lowest level.
AND:
The FHA has recently issued HUD 4000.1, which is a comprehensive policy guidebook for FHA single family loans including references to FHA appraisal standards. Those references do include a mention of bars on windows:
“The Appraiser must report when the Property has security bars on bedroom windows or doors.”
Note that this reference says nothing about replacement or removal, however state or local building code might. So what all borrowers with questions like these should know is that answers to these questions are two-fold. One part of the answer may or may not be found in the FHA loan policy handbook, while the other part may be found in state or local building codes.
The appraiser may or may not recommend corrections of fixes of such a condition depending on circumstances.
MORE INFO: call your local HUD Office and also Check with your Local Building Code Office.
