When selling real estate in Connecticut, sellers need to fill out a disclosure form. This is also referred to as a residential property condition report, and it is required under the Uniform Property Condition Disclosure Act.
As a general rule, the disclosure form is meant to identify any problems with the property. A buyer deserves to know if there is a leaky roof, for example, or cracks in the foundation. Sellers may not know every detail about their own home, but they must disclose any material defects that they are aware of.
Potential issues to report
When filling out the form, sellers will be asked numerous questions about their house in order to identify these issues. Examples include:
- Known problems with the heating or cooling systems
- Issues with the hot water heater or plumbing system
- Problems with underground storage tanks or sewer systems
- Issues with the electrical system, from broken circuits to fire hazards
- The use of fire sprinkler systems, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, or the lack thereof
- Any known asbestos or other hazardous materials on the property
- The use of lead in paint or plumbing
- Cracks in the foundation or the slab, potentially due to the home settling over time
- Previous issues with pests, such as termite infestations
- If a radon test has been carried out or if radon has been detected on the property
Ideally, buyers will also have a home inspection carried out, but the disclosure form is the first step in this process. It is crucial that buyers and sellers know what is required and what legal rights and obligations they have.