Q. I’ve been reading about new homeowners who applied for solar panels and found out they unknowingly bought a home that needs to be raised. What a mess! However, I really can’t get a grasp on the scope of the problem and which homes are affected. I know I went by the book and obtained the proper permit after we were flooded during Sandy. Does this issue affect me or potential buyers of my home if I try to sell it? I’m not looking to move; I’m just trying to understand what this is all about. The press reports are confusing.
A. If the seller didn’t get a repair permit before selling, then the buyer who inherited the issue may have crossed the 50 percent value threshold when applying for the solar panel installation. The period of time between the sign-off for a storm repair permit and other proposed work, to avoid having the two costs combined, is one year. The repair permit was still required when the new home-buyer/owner applied for a solar panel permit, so I suspect that the municipality combined the repair value and the solar panel cost, forcing the house lift requirement.
The value of the repair is provided by the home insurance company in what is referred to as a “proof of loss” itemized statement. Except for uninsured homeowners, this statement must be submitted with each repair application. Your repair permit means you complied and are finished. Just after the storm, I urged elected officials to send notification explaining the specifics of this requirement. They have yet to do that, even though it’s 6½ years later and the permit is still required.
Officials claim that everyone in the flood zone was notified either by a sticker/letter left on their front door or by mail. Unfortunately, many people were not back in their homes for extended periods of time and say they never saw such a notice. The solution was simple: send out more letters and communicate clearly.