Still Sellable? How Long Does It Take to Condemn a House?

If a local government deems a house unlivable, they can instigate what’s known as the condemnation process. There are many reasons this may occur, from code violations and safety hazards to structural damage. 

If you or someone you know is facing this possibility, it’s important to understand what the next steps will include. You might be asking questions such as, “Is there a timeline that this process will follow? If so, how long does it take to condemn a house?”

Today, we’re taking a closer look at how condemned houses work, sharing everything interested sellers and home buyers need to know. 

What Is a Condemned House?

If a house becomes condemned, this means that the local authorities have declared it to be unfit for humans to live in. There is a complex legal process that must occur before this final decision, taking several factors into account. Simply allowing a home to fill up with clutter or failing to take care of minor maintenance issues doesn’t typically lead to condemnation. 

Instead, it’s usually one event or a series of events that significantly weakens the hygiene, safety, or structural integrity of the home. These concerns are serious enough that the government believes anyone living on the property could become sick or injured simply by being inside of it. As a result, any residents are required to vacate the home as soon as the condemnation hearing is complete. 

Most of the time, the local housing authority or building department is the entity responsible for carrying out this process within their specific jurisdiction. 

How Long Does It Take to Condemn a House?

When it comes to condemning a house, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all timeline that applies to every case. Rather, there are a few different elements that can affect how long the process takes. 

Let’s take a look at the most common ones. 

Local Regulations

Each jurisdiction will have its own steps that it’s required to follow before hanging a condemned sign on a home. For instance, authorities must complete a thorough inspection, inform the homeowners, and wait through the notification period before the decision is complete. 

These factors can affect the condemnation timeline, especially if the homeowners are unwilling to cooperate with the process. 

Case Complexity

Before condemning a house, most authorities will create a complete list of all the issues found and repairs needed before the property is up to code again. If there are only a few problems, this step shouldn’t take too long. 

However, some of the more complex cases can take longer to complete. This usually happens when they find a large number of structural issues or safety concerns. When these problems are present, it can take much longer to analyze, plan, and execute the required repairs. 

Number of Stakeholders Involved

Sometimes, authorities are only required to work with one or two stakeholders before condemning a property. This might include the homeowner and a loved one, for instance. Other times, there are multiple people involved in the process, such as:

• Homeowners
• Government officials 
• Relatives
• Lawyers
• Contractors
• Inspectors

As you can imagine, trying to coordinate everyone’s schedule can become difficult and time-consuming. The process becomes even more complex if authorities have to perform extra steps, such as obtaining special approvals or ensuring compliance with local regulations.

If the required stakeholders aren’t available during a given timeframe, all parties will have to wait even longer. 

Homeowner Participation

Homeowners play an active role in the condemnation process. If they are unwilling to cooperate or respond at each juncture, it can delay the timeline. A few of the steps that homeowners are required to complete include:

• Promptly addressing any notices received
• Providing access to the home for necessary inspections
• Complying with any other steps or requirements as instructed by authorities

This can be a highly emotional process, affecting more than a homeowner’s immediate living situation. It can also hurt their confidence and self-esteem. If they’re non-responsive or non-compliant in any way, it can push everything back. 

Availability of Materials

Often, condemnation occurs because homes are severely under-repaired. Some of the top reasons why this process occurs include:

• Water damage
• Termite damage
• Infrastructure damage
• Unsafe building condition
• Unsafe building materials
• Unhygienic conditions 

Even if these problems are significant, it doesn’t usually mean that the home is permanently ruined. In fact, many homes are inhabitable once again as long as owners take care of the mandated repairs or updates.

If they decide to do so, however, they may have to wait on building materials and contractors before they can get started. From supply chain issues to rising costs and high interest rates, the construction sector is still riddled with delays, expenses, and concerns. 

If they can’t acquire the goods and labor they need on time, this could affect the condemnation process. 

A Look at the House Condemnation Process

To understand how long the house condemnation process takes, it’s helpful to note the key steps. While each jurisdiction will have its own step-by-step approach, let’s review the basic outline that most follow. 

1. First Complaint and Initial Inspection: A Few Days to a Few Weeks

Most of the time, condemnations start because a concerned neighbor or agency files an official complaint. The complaint will detail the condition of the house, and why the sender thinks it warrants an inspection. 

Once local authorities receive it, they will conduct an initial inspection. During this time, they’ll assess the general condition of the property, making note of any hazards or violations they see. 

This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after someone files that first complaint. If the authorities are busy and the issues are minor, it will take longer (and vice versa).

2. Status Determination: Two to Three Weeks

After the inspection, the authorities will meet to discuss key findings. During this time, they will assign the home one of three statuses:

• Liveable
• Repairable
• Condemned

If they deem the home liveable, the homeowners may not need to take any further action. However, the authorities might provide them with a list of helpful repairs that can make the house safer, cleaner, or more comfortable. 

If it’s repairable, the authorities will list the issues found, along with necessary repairs required. They might not make anyone vacate, but; however, they will still mark the property as being condemned. 

As long as homeowners can complete these updates within the given timeline, they can stay in their homes. The repairs must bring the property into compliance with the most recent safety standards and building codes. They usually choose to complete those repairs themselves or hire a professional contractor. 

If it’s beyond repair, this means that the authorities believe it presents a real and immediate threat to all occupants. They may condemn it on the spot and require everyone living there to vacate immediately. 

3. Homeowner Notification: Two to Three Weeks

Once the authorities have classified the home’s condition, they will notify the homeowners in writing. Sometimes, the homeowners will disagree with the findings. If this is the case, they normally have a few avenues to consider.

These can include:

• Going through the appeals process alone
• Working with a lawyer or other legal professional
• Looking for alternative housing arrangements 

If these steps take a while, they can delay the process substantially. Additionally, if the homeowners are hard to reach or communication is slow, it can extend the timeline. 

4. Homeowner Repairs: A Few Weeks to a Few Months

Once they know what needs to be done, the homeowners should complete the required repairs. This can take a few weeks to a few months, depending on how they approach the work and how extensive it is. Some of the factors that can influence the duration of this step include:

• Number of repairs needed
• Contractor availability
• Building permit availability
• Homeowner finances

5. Re-Inspection: Two to Three Weeks

If the property is repairable, the authorities will typically re-inspect it once all required updates are finished. This way, they can verify that everything is compliant and up to code. If they accept its condition, they may change its current status from condemned to liveable. 

At that time, everyone living on the property can resume occupancy. If homeowners or other stakeholders refuse to comply with any part of their requisite next steps, it can result in a few actions, such as:

• Additional fees
• Legal action from the city
• Demolition of the property

Is Your Home Being Condemned?

If your home is facing condemnation, we understand how frustrating and upsetting this process can be. In addition to asking, “How long does it take to condemn a house?” you might also wonder about your next steps. Can you sell a condemned home?

In most cases, the answer is yes, and we’re here to make the process easy. 

At WeBuyHouses.com, we purchase many types of homes in the Memphis, TN area. These include new or old homes, homes that need repairs, single-family homes, condos, and even condemned homes!

To learn more about our process and get a cash offer today, contact us here!