Pre-Sale Reports

PRE-SALE REPORTS

In September of 2008, the City Council adopted Ordinance 1173 which requires a Real Property Presale Report to be obtained from the City. The purpose of the Report is to protect the grantee or transferee of residential, commercial and industrial property within the city of Bell against undisclosed restrictions on the use of the property, or the illegal construction of additions, alterations or improvements on property by requiring that the grantee or transferee of property be furnished with a report of matters of public record and compliance therewith pertaining to the authorized use, occupancy and zoning classification of such property prior to the sale or exchange thereof.

What Does the Presale Report Focus On?

The Real Property Report focuses on the following issues before sale, transfer or exchange of the residential property is completed:

1. The issuance of required building code and Uniform Code permits.

2. Compliance with health, safety and property maintenance Code requirements.

3. The status or detection of any nonconforming or illegal structures.

4. The existence of any land use approvals.

What if there are issues on the property, how long does the property owner have to fix it?

The inspection made during the preparation of the Real Property may reveal existence of significant problems or conditions on the property. However pursuant to Ordinance No. 1173 Section 15.38.100, the Community Development Director is authorized to delay immediate action to abate any violation(s) observed as the result of conducting the inspection and completing the report if:

A. The prospective buyer or transferee of the subject property executes and records with the Los Angeles County recorder’s office, an agreement promising to fully and completely abate the violations on those terms and within such times as the buyer and the director of Building and Safety may agree upon, not to exceed six (6) months after consummation of the sale; or

B. The seller posts funds in escrow in an amount sufficient for the abatement of such violation(s). Within ninety (90) days following the consummation of the sale, the grantee or transferee will commence abatement of the violation(s) using said funds in escrow, and shall complete said abatement not later than six (6) months after consummation of the sale."

Inspection pursuant to Section 15.38.050 does not constitute a warranty or guarantee by the city that violations other than those disclosed do not exist. No inspection shall be construed to stop or prevent the city from taking any all actions to enforce the provisions of any law, ordinance or regulation which the city may have. The omission from a report of any illegal condition(s) of real property, or structures thereon, shall not act to prevent the city from thereafter causing the illegal condition(s) to be brought into compliance or abated. No liability shall accrue to the city for errors, omissions or inaccuracies in the report.

If you should have any questions regarding the Real Property Report or Ordinance No. 1173, please contact our Building & Safety Division at (323) 588-6211 ext. 2611. You may also download the Pre-sale Report Application by clicking here.