Nobody wants to hear the word “termites” in the middle of a sale. But in California it comes up all the time, and in Leisure Village there’s an extra question on top of it: is this the HOA’s problem or mine?

Families ask me this a lot, especially when they’re getting a parent’s home ready to sell. So here’s how it works, in plain words, using the Association’s own Responsibility Matrix, its termite permit form, and California’s rules for termite inspections.

Who Pays for Termites in Leisure Village?

The owner does. The Association’s Responsibility Matrix has a line for “Termite/wood destroying pest eradication and resulting damage/all wood surfaces,” and the only box checked is the owner’s. The Association’s dues page says the same thing another way: termite correction isn’t included in the monthly HOA dues.

That surprises people, because the Association does take care of a lot of the outside of the home. Here’s how the matrix splits it.

The middle row is the one that trips people up. Rotted fascia board might be the Association’s job, or yours. It depends on what caused it. If the inspector finds termite damage, the repair is yours. My post on who fixes what in Leisure Village goes through the rest of the matrix.

The Leisure Village Termite Permit, Step by Step

Leisure Village has its own form for this: the Termite & Other Wood Destroying Organisms Permit Application. You’ll find it on the Association’s forms page. Here’s what the form asks for and what it says.

• ✓Get an inspection first. The form says to attach the inspection report to the permit.
• ✓Fill in the owner’s name, Village address, and model name, plus the contractor’s name, phone, address, and license number.
• ✓Sign the conditions. The owner holds the Association harmless for the work and accepts responsibility for maintaining it. The sprinkler system, trees, and shrubs can’t be changed without further Association approval.
• ✓Wait for the signature. Work can’t start until the Association signs the permit.
• ✓Post the permit. A copy has to be displayed at the job site.
• ✓Finish within 60 days. The permit expires in 60 days unless the Association extends it.
• ✓Call the Association Office at (805) 484-2861 when the work is done, so the compliance inspector can do the final inspection.

The form also recommends getting any City of Camarillo building permits the work needs, and it reminds owners that a business doing more than $1,000 of work (labor and materials) has to be licensed with the Contractors State License Board.

One more detail I like to point out. The Association-use section of the form has three boxes. “Treatment only, no structural repair” is marked no charge to the homeowner. “Treatment with structural repair” says the Architectural Permit fee applies. And structural repair with dry rot or fungus damage gets sent to Residential Services. So if your report calls for wood repair, plan for the Architectural Permit too. My post on Leisure Village remodeling rules explains how that permit works.

What a California Termite Inspection Covers

In California, termite inspections are regulated by the Structural Pest Control Board. Under Business and Professions Code section 8516, the inspection has to be done by a licensed Branch 3 field representative or operator who works for a registered company, and the report has to be delivered before any work starts.

The report sorts what the inspector finds into two groups. The first is infestation or infection that’s evident. The second is conditions likely to lead to it, and the law gives examples like earth-wood contact, too much cellulose debris, poor grading, excess moisture, roof leaks, and poor ventilation. In real estate, you’ll hear these called “Section 1” and “Section 2.”

Here’s a helpful tool most people don’t know about. The Structural Pest Control Board lets you search whether a property has been inspected within the last two years, and you can request copies of those reports in writing.

Termites When You Sell a Leisure Village Home

In California, there’s no single rule for who pays for termite work in a sale. The buyer and seller agree on it in the purchase contract. The seller might do the Section 1 work before closing, or the two sides might adjust the price instead, and some buyers take the home as it is. It depends on the report and the deal.

What I tell sellers is simple: know before the buyer does. A termite inspection early in the process gives you time to get bids, pull the Association permit, and decide what you’ll fix. In Leisure Village that matters even more, because the permit has to be signed before work starts, and an escrow clock doesn’t wait for paperwork.

Many Leisure Village homes share walls. The Association describes duplex, triplex, and quadplex designs as well as standalone homes. If your home is attached, ask your pest company and the Association Office how the work will affect the home next door before you schedule it.

If you’re getting a parent’s home ready and you’d rather not fix much, my post on selling a house as is walks through that choice. And 7 costly mistakes when selling a Leisure Village home covers the other surprises that cost sellers money.

If You’re Buying in Leisure Village

Read the whole report, not only the summary page. Look at what’s in Section 1, what’s in Section 2, and which areas the inspector couldn’t reach. Then ask who’s paying for what before you remove your contingencies. And ask your lender whether your loan has its own termite requirements.

After you close, termites are yours to watch for, along with the rest of the owner items on the matrix. My posts on what to expect buying a home in Leisure Village and Leisure Village insurance are good next reads.

A Termite Checklist for Leisure Village Owners

• ✓Check the Structural Pest Control Board search to see if the home was inspected in the last two years.
• ✓Hire a registered company with a licensed Branch 3 inspector.
• ✓Read Section 1, Section 2, and the inaccessible areas on the report.
• ✓Pull the Leisure Village termite permit and attach the report before any work starts.
• ✓Add an Architectural Permit if the work includes structural wood repair.
• ✓If your home shares a wall, ask how the work affects the neighbor.
• ✓Call the Association Office at (805) 484-2861 when the work is finished.
• ✓Keep the report, permit, and completion paperwork for your sale file.

Why This Matters in Leisure Village

Leisure Village homes were built from 1973 to 1984, and the matrix lists plenty of wood on them, from fascia and eaves to patio covers and enclosures. A termite report is a normal part of selling a California home. Knowing that it’s an owner item here, and that the Association has its own permit, keeps a routine report from turning into a stressful week in escrow. Know your options before you decide, and take it one step at a time.

This post is general information based on the Leisure Village Association’s Responsibility Matrix, its Termite & Other Wood Destroying Organisms Permit Application (Rev. 02/10/2025), its dues page, California Business and Professions Code section 8516, and the Structural Pest Control Board website. Rules and fees can change, so please confirm the current version with the Association Office. I’m a Realtor, not a pest control operator or an attorney. For questions about your inspection report, talk with a licensed pest control company, and for contract or legal questions, talk with a real estate attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

Selling a Leisure Village Home With a Termite Report?

Featured photo: Termite damage on a block of wood by Pratishkhedekar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.