FHA Waives Timeframe for Completing Damage Inspections in all Puerto Rico Areas Affected by Hurricane Irma

FHA issued a waiver regarding the timeframe for completing damage inspections in all Puerto Rico areas affected by Hurricane Irma. FHA currently requires that all properties with pending mortgages or endorsements in presidentially-declared major disaster areas have a damage inspection report that identifies and quantifies any dwelling damage. The damage inspection report must be dated after the “incident period” (as defined by FEMA). At this time, FEMA has designated the incident period for Hurricane Irma as ongoing. According to FHA, the situation in Puerto Rico has stabilized to the extent that further damage to properties appears unlikely, despite FEMA not having closed its incident period. As a result, FHA issued a waiver regarding the timing of the required inspection, allowing damage inspections to be completed beginning November 09, 2017 in all Puerto Rico areas. The waiver expires April 30, 2020.

Click here to view the FHA Waiver of Housing Directive