Houses get condemned by your local government once the government determines that the home is no longer safe to live in.  This typically occurs if a building fails to pass local safety codes at inspection. Some common reasons a house may be condemned include: Outdated or hazardous electrical system Broken plumbing system Structural damage caused by extreme weather Termite damage Black mold Most condemned homes do not occur due to one single thing either, and can include a compounded mix of different hazards that have popped up over the years. Since many older homes are subject to these hazards, it’s not as uncommon as you think for a once ordinary home to become a condemned house.