Local News in Brief : Irvine : Home Inspections Proposal to Be Studied

The City Council has referred to a committee the controversial proposal to require city building inspections of most homes before they can be resold.

The proposal would require sellers, real estate agents or escrow officers to notify city officials of pending sales of houses or condominiums at least 5 years old. City inspectors would then examine the homes for building code compliance and charge fees of $131 for houses and $98 for condominiums.

The council voted 4 to 0 Tuesday night to send the proposal to committee after hearing 2 hours of public testimony, most of it against the proposal.

Harry Ehrlich, Irvine’s acting director of public works, said the proposal was an effort to protect future homeowners and maintain quality housing in Irvine. But Irvine real estate agents called the proposal “another revenue-generating fee.”

Doreen Benton, president of the Irvine Board of Realtors, suggested that Realtors work with the city on a voluntary inspection program or a code-awareness program rather than one that would be mandatory.

City officials said the committee probably will include representatives of the real estate industry, the Chamber of Commerce, firefighters and the city planning and public safety commissions.