We buy the house with its violations
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
You can talk with us about selling the house in its current condition instead of finishing repairs, cleaning, or a cleanout for a listing. Tell us about the notice and the house; you do not have to figure out the code record before starting a conversation. An existing notice or order still has to be handled under the Rhode Island rule below.
What can affect closing in Rhode Island
If you have been served with a housing-code violation notice or order, state law says you cannot sell before fixing the problems unless you first give the buyer a true copy of every notice and order. Before the transfer, you must also tell the code officer in writing that you intend to sell and include the buyer's name and address. You can hand-deliver that notice and get a receipt, or send it by registered or certified mail. A buyer who receives the notice is bound by it. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24.3-17.
If violations remain, the code officer can issue a second notice. Once final, that notice can be recorded in the city's land records with a civil penalty that grows over time. The notice and lien remain on record until the problem is fixed and the penalty is paid; later owners are treated as knowing about them. A recorded notice generally lasts three years unless renewed. The law also gives the city options for dangerous buildings, including urgent repairs, an order to vacate, or demolition, with costs recoverable from the owner. Under the state building code, costs for work on an unsafe building after an ignored notice can become a lien on the property. See § 45-24.3-19 and § 23-27.3-124.5.
Providence also requires a smoke and carbon monoxide detector inspection for any home being sold. That inspection is separate from a code-violation notice; the Providence Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau provides local information.
When you sell to us, we're the buyer, so the repairs become our job. That does not erase an existing order, court case, or seller obligation before closing.
What happens next
- Tell us the property's address, condition, and what the notice or order says.
- We talk through the house and notice with you; you do not need to interpret it first.
- We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. You see the written offer and written terms before you commit. If you choose to proceed, closing is through a title company.
Providence code and inspection offices
For local code and inspection questions, start with the City of Providence's Department of Inspection and Standards. For a smoke and carbon monoxide inspection on a home being sold, see the Providence Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau. If a notice involves a court case, the City of Providence Housing Court is the local court resource. These offices can address their records and procedures; a property- specific notice still controls what applies to that house.
Costs and questions
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Rhode Island's real estate conveyance tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes remain separate.
Providence code-violation sale questions
Can I sell a Providence house with code violations?
Yes, a sale can still be possible. If you were served with a housing-code violation notice or order, Rhode Island law requires you to give the buyer a true copy of every notice or order and notify the code officer in writing before the transfer. An as-is sale does not erase the notice or order.
Does selling as-is make a Providence code notice or repair order go away?
No. A buyer who receives the notice is bound by it, and an existing order, court case, or seller obligation does not disappear before closing. When you sell to us, we're the buyer, so the repairs become our job.
Is an inspection required when a Providence home is sold?
Providence requires a smoke and carbon monoxide detector inspection for a home being sold. The Providence Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau is the local office for this inspection.
What happens after I tell you about the house and notice?
We talk through the property and any notice or order with you. We give you a written cash offer within 24 hours, and you see the written offer and written terms before you commit. If you choose to proceed, closing is through a title company.
Which closing costs do you pay?
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Rhode Island's real estate conveyance tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes remain separate.
Talk with us about the house
Call USA Home Buyers at 888-274-5006 or use the form to tell us what is happening with the Providence property.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address, condition, and any code notice or inspection question.