Showing posts with label Smoke Detectors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smoke Detectors. Show all posts

6/12/2014

California Smoke Detectors Requirements on July 1, 2014

Are you concerned about your smoke alarms? You should be.  The law is changing as of July 1, 2014 in California.   According to CA's Health and Safety Code, all smoke alarms installed after July 1 must have none-replaceable battery with a 10-year battery life.  If you have currently have smoke alarms installed, you are not required to replace it until you replace it with a new smoke alarm.


Also,beginning January 1, 2015, the State Fire Marshal will require all smoke alarms to:
  • display the date of manufacture;
  • provide a place where the date of installation can be written; and
  • incorporate a hush feature.
Landlords should be careful to note rules regarding their rental units/properties, and though there is no time schedule for inspections of smoke alarms," if a smoke alarm defect can be reasonably ascertained visually during a landlord’s visit to the unit, the landlord needs to repair or replace the device."  This also includes notifications by tenants of any problems.

Property owners applying for building permits will also have to review their smoke alarms when there is more than $1,000 of work to be done.

Sellers of property will be required to make all disclosures on their Transfer Disclosure Statement concerning the status of smoke alarms.  See the full article.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, between 2007-2011, the leading cause of  non-fatal home fires was cooking equipment.  The leading cause of home deaths by fire were smoking materials.  One-quarter of all fire deaths were caused by fires started in the bedroom. See full article.


8/23/2012

Seller Top 10 Legal Mistakes, Part IV

Not providing the buyer with legally required disclosures.

There is an important form used by REALTORS in California transaction named the Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) for residential sellers to make certain written disclosures about their property. This form is required by the California Civil Code, since 1987.

Sellers often forget how important it was to them as a buyer to find out what their seller could tell them about their new home. Buyers still want to know, so what is a checkbox and a few blank lines to fill in to a seller on the TDS is a world of important information to the buyer(s).

The TDS is meant for the seller to tell the buyer what is within their ordinary knowledge about their property, i.e., repairs, how recently painted, permitted and non-permitted modifications or additions, how old the roof is, new flooring, is there a sump pump under the subflooring--in other words, things that the mentally present person is not likely to have forgotten about.  There is even an additional multi-page Property Questionnaire covering numerous topics to prompt the seller's memory, a document which is not legally required but is often requested by the buyer's agent. Buyers sometimes think that sellers purposely didn't tell them certain things, like that rot that was found after the brick facing was removed from the front of the house. But things can happen that the seller may have no knowledge of, especially if they lived there for many years without spending money on maintenance. But then there's the case of the freshly painted bathroom that may have been covering over the water stains from a roof leak, which the buyer found out about on physical inspection, but where there was no disclosure about it on the TDS.  Sellers, it only upsets buyers when you're not totally forthcoming--it may be painful to negotiate during escrow and walk away with less money, but it could be saving you from an angry buyer (that did not discover a problem during escrow) and a lawsuit later on.

It's important to give this TDS document to the buyer, in the time period stated in the contract, since the buyer has the right to cancel the contract otherwise. If the seller thinks he/she doesn't have to provide this form and refuses to do so, the seller will be liable for any resulting damages (that means . . . attorneys, and more money spent).  If they seller accidentally includes wrong information, and then realizes it later, they may amend the TDS and give it to the buyer. There are certain sellers exempt from this form, such as in probate cases, and trust, plus a few other types.

And there are other required disclosures, including those about natural hazards, lead paint, special districts, and others, such as death on the property.  If someone died on the property more than 3 years prior to the buyer's offer to purchase, or if they died from AIDs, the seller is not required to disclose that fact, unless the buyer asks. If someone did die before that time, then the seller must disclose it--because if you the seller thinks the buyer won't be talking to the neighbors later on, you should think again.  Buyers should know what they are concerned about before and during their buyer investigation period, so that they are not unpleasantly surprised after they move in.

This is a more complex and lengthy subject than in this post, if you have questions please feel free to contact me.
An observation:  It's so very difficult to absorb all that is conveyed in the tiny print in these transactions, so my advice is:  turn off your TV, do not check your phone, your iPad, your computer, just sit and focus in as quiet a place as possible when completing your documents.  It is not a time for multi-tasking.

5/21/2012

Don't Overlook California CO Detectors

Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and toxic. It's called the "silent killer" in homes because some victims are not even aware that the deadly condition exists.
In California, detectors must be installed:
(1) For all existing single-family dwelling units on or before July 1, 2011.
(2) For all other existing dwelling units on or before Jan. 1, 2013.
Where should they be placed?  For minimum security, a CO detector should be centrally located outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and  should be located at least 6 inches from all exterior walls and at least 3 feet from supply or return vents. I have even heard that during escrow, some appraisers will "call out" a missing detector on their appraisal. If you're a homeowner or landlord, don't wait to comply with this requirement now.
Property owners must be concerned about unmaintained furnaces, water heaters and appliances that can produce the deadly gas. Other sources could include leaking chimneys, unvented kerosene or gas space heaters and even exhaust from cars operating in an attached garage.
The Environmental Protection Agency suggests the following to reduce exposure in the home:
  • Keep gas appliances properly adjusted
  • Install and use an exhaust fan vented to the outdoors over gas stoves
  • Open flues when fireplaces are in use
  • Do not idle your car inside a garage
  • Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up central heating systems annually
Lower levels of carbon monoxide poisoning can be mistaken for the flu.
It's also possible to buy them in combination with a smoke alarm. Read more at HouseLogic.
Web Statistics