Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New Jersey
permits
we are about to sell our home and
have come to understand that the
attic was turned into a bedroom
without permits. the attorney who
closed the home 20 odd years ago did
not bring this to our attention. now
the town is going to fine us and we
will need to spend some money to
get things straight in order to sell.
can we get any recourse?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: permits
This happens very frequently. What most towns really want is for you to apply for a permit, pay that fee, and that usually ends the matter. Only a court can impose a fine, so if they file a complaint in Municipal Court you can explain to the Judge what happened and ask him or her to be lenient. It is unlikely that the cost to you would justify any further legal action, which itself is doubtful to be successful because of the passage of so many years.