Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§55-517 through 55-519.2, 55-519.4, 55-520, and 55-524 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding sections numbered 55-517.1 and 55-519.2:1 as follows:
§55-517. Applicability.
The provisions of this chapter apply only with respect to
transfers by sale, exchange, installment land sales contract, or lease with
option to buy residential real property consisting of not less than one nor
more than four dwelling units, whether or not the transaction is with the
assistance of a licensed real estate broker or salesperson. For the
purposes of this chapter, a "real estate contract" means a contract
for the sale, exchange, or lease with the option to buy residential real estate
subject to this chapter.
§55-517.1. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Electronic delivery," for purposes of delivery of the disclosures required by this chapter, means sending the required disclosures via the Internet, provided that the sender retains sufficient proof of the electronic delivery, which may be an electronic receipt of delivery, a confirmation that the notice was sent by facsimile, or a certificate of service prepared by the sender confirming the electronic delivery.
"Notification" means a statement of the availability of any disclosures required by this chapter on the Real Estate Board's website or delivery of any such disclosures to the purchaser.
"Ratification" means the full execution of a real estate purchase contract by all parties.
"Real estate contract" means a contract for the sale, exchange, or lease with the option to buy residential real estate subject to this chapter.
§55-518. Exemptions.
A. The following are specifically excluded from the provisions of this chapter:
1. Transfers pursuant to court order including, but not limited to, transfers ordered by a court in administration of an estate, transfers pursuant to a writ of execution, transfers by foreclosure sale or by a deed in lieu of a foreclosure, transfers by a trustee in bankruptcy, transfers by eminent domain, and transfers resulting from a decree for specific performance. Also, transfers by an assignment for the benefit of creditors pursuant to Chapter 9 (§55-156 et seq.) and transfers pursuant to escheats pursuant to Chapter 9 (§55-156 et seq.).
2. Transfers to a beneficiary of a deed of trust pursuant to a foreclosure sale or by a deed in lieu of foreclosure, or transfers by a beneficiary under a deed of trust who has acquired the real property at a sale conducted pursuant to a foreclosure sale under a deed of trust or has acquired the real property by a deed in lieu of foreclosure.
3. Transfers by a fiduciary in the course of the administration of a decedent's estate, guardianship, conservatorship, or trust.
4. Transfers from one or more co-owners solely to one or more other co-owners.
5. Transfers made solely to any combination of a spouse or a person or persons in the lineal line of consanguinity of one or more of the transferors.
6. Transfers between spouses resulting from a decree of divorce or a property settlement stipulation pursuant to the provisions of Title 20.
7. Transfers made by virtue of the record owner's failure to pay any federal, state, or local taxes.
8. Transfers to or from any governmental entity or public or quasi-public housing authority or agency.
9. Transfers involving the first sale of a dwelling; provided, that this exemption shall not apply to the disclosures required by §55-519.1.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 9 of this
section, the builder of a new dwelling shall disclose in writing to the
purchaser thereof all known material defects which would constitute a violation
of any applicable building code. In addition, for property that is located
wholly or partially in any locality comprising Planning District 15, the
builder or owner, if the builder is not the owner of the property, shall
disclose in writing whether the builder or owner has any knowledge of (i)
whether mining operations have previously been conducted on the property or (ii)
the presence of abandoned mines, shafts, or pits, if any. The disclosures
required by this subsection shall be made by a builder or owner (i) when
selling a completed dwelling, before acceptance ratification of the purchase
contract or (ii) when selling a dwelling before or during its construction,
after issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Such disclosure shall not
abrogate any warranty or any other contractual obligations the builder or owner
may have to the purchaser. The disclosure required by this subsection may be
made on the disclosure form described in §55-519. If no defects are known by
the builder to exist, no written disclosure is required by this subsection.
§55-519. Required disclosures for buyer to beware; buyer to exercise necessary due diligence.
A. With regard to transfers
described in §55-517, the The
owner of the residential real property shall furnish to a purchaser a
residential property disclosure statement in for the buyer to beware of certain matters that may
affect the buyer's decision to purchase such real property. Such statement
shall be on a form
provided by the Real Estate Board stating that the owner
makes the following representations as to the real property:
1. The owner makes no
representations with respect to the matters set forth and described at a
website maintained by the Real Estate Board and that the purchaser is advised
to consult this website for important information about the real property; and
2. The owner represents that
there are no pending enforcement actions pursuant to the Uniform Statewide
Building Code (§36-97 et seq.) that affect the safe, decent, sanitary living
conditions of the property of which the owner has been notified in writing by
the locality, except as disclosed on the disclosure statement, nor any pending
violation of the local zoning ordinance that the violator has not abated or
remedied under the zoning ordinance, within a time period set out in the
written notice of violation from the locality or established by a court of
competent jurisdiction, except as disclosed on the disclosure statement on its website.
B. At the
website referenced in subdivision A 1, the Real Estate
Board shall include language providing notice to the purchaser that by
delivering the residential property disclosure statement The residential property
disclosure statement provided by the Real Estate Board on its website shall
include the following:
1. The owner makes no representations or warranties as to the condition of the real property or any improvements thereon, or with regard to any covenants and restrictions as may be recorded among the land records affecting the real property or any improvements thereon, and purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence a particular purchaser deems necessary, including obtaining a home inspection, as defined in §54.1-500, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to such contract;
2. The owner makes no representations with respect to any matters that may pertain to parcels adjacent to the subject parcel, including zoning classification or permitted uses of adjacent parcels, and that purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence a particular purchaser deems necessary with respect to adjacent parcels in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to such contract;
3. The owner makes no representations to any matters that pertain to whether the provisions of any historic district ordinance affect the property and purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence a particular purchaser deems necessary with respect to any historic district designated by the locality pursuant to §15.2-2306, including review of any local ordinance creating such district or any official map adopted by the locality depicting historic districts, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to such contract;
4. The owner makes no representations with respect to whether the property contains any resource protection areas established in an ordinance implementing the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (§62.1-44.15:67 et seq.) adopted by the locality where the property is located pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:74 and that purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence a particular purchaser deems necessary to determine whether the provisions of any such ordinance affect the property, including review of any official map adopted by the locality depicting resource protection areas, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to such contract;
5. The owner makes no representations with respect to information on any sexual offenders registered under Chapter 23 (§19.2-387 et seq.) of Title 19.2 and that purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence they deem necessary with respect to such information, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to such contract;
6. The owner makes no representations with respect to whether the property is within a dam break inundation zone. Such disclosure statement shall advise purchasers to exercise whatever due diligence they deem necessary with respect to whether the property resides within a dam break inundation zone, including a review of any map adopted by the locality depicting dam break inundation zones;
7. The owner makes no representations with respect to the presence of any stormwater detention facilities located on the property, or any maintenance agreement for such facilities, and purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence they deem necessary to determine the presence of any stormwater detention facilities on the property, or any maintenance agreement for such facilities, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to such contract;
8. The owner makes no representations with respect to the presence of any wastewater system, including the type or size thereof or associated maintenance responsibilities related thereto, located on the property and purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence they deem necessary to determine the presence of any wastewater system on the property and the costs associated with maintaining, repairing, or inspecting any wastewater system, including any costs or requirements related to the pump-out of septic tanks, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to such contract;
9. The owner makes no representations with respect to any
right to install or use solar energy collection devices on the property; and
10. The owner makes no representations with respect to whether the property is located in one or more special flood hazard areas and purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence they deem necessary, including (i) obtaining a flood certification or mortgage lender determination of whether the property is located in one or more special flood hazard areas, (ii) review of any map depicting special flood hazard areas, and (iii) whether flood insurance is required, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to such contract;
11. The owner makes no representations with respect to whether the property is subject to one or more conservation or other easements and that purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence a particular purchaser deems necessary in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to such contract; and
12. The owner makes no representations with respect to whether the property is subject to a community development authority approved by a local governing body pursuant to Article 6 (§15.2-5152 et seq.) of Chapter 51 of Title 15.2 and that purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence a particular purchaser deems necessary in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, including determining whether a copy of the resolution or ordinance has been recorded in the land records of the circuit court for the locality in which the community development authority district is located for each tax parcel included in the district pursuant to § 15.2-5157, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to such contract.
C. Any purchaser who is a
party to a real estate purchase contract subject to this section may provide in
such contract that the disclosures provided on the Real Estate Board website be
printed off and provided to such purchaser The residential property disclosure statement
shall be delivered in accordance with §55-520.
§55-519.1. Required disclosures pertaining to a military air installation.
The owner of residential real property located in any locality in which a military air installation is located shall disclose to the purchaser whether the subject parcel is located in a noise zone or accident potential zone, or both, if so designated on the official zoning map by the locality in which the property is located. Such disclosure shall be provided to the purchaser on a form provided by the Real Estate Board on its website. Such disclosure shall state the specific noise zone or accident potential zone, or both, in which the property is located according to the official zoning map.
§55-519.2. Required disclosures; defective drywall.
Notwithstanding the exemptions in §55-518, if the owner of a
residential dwelling unit has actual knowledge of the existence of defective
drywall in such dwelling unit, the owner shall provide to a prospective
purchaser a written disclosure that the property has defective drywall. Such
disclosure shall be provided to the purchaser on a form provided by the Virginia Real Estate Board on its website and otherwise in
accordance with this chapter. For purposes of this section, "defective
drywall" means all defective drywall as defined in §36-156.1.
§55-519.2:1. Required disclosures; pending building or zoning violations.
Notwithstanding the exemptions in §55-518, if the owner of a residential dwelling unit has actual knowledge of any pending enforcement actions pursuant to the Uniform Statewide Building Code (§36-97 et seq.) that affect the safe, decent, sanitary living conditions of the property of which the owner has been notified in writing by the locality, or any pending violation of the local zoning ordinance that the violator has not abated or remedied under the zoning ordinance, within a time period set out in the written notice of violation from the locality or established by a court of competent jurisdiction, the owner shall provide to a prospective purchaser a written disclosure that so states. Such disclosure shall be provided to the purchaser on a form provided by the Real Estate Board on its website and otherwise in accordance with this chapter.
§55-519.4. Required disclosures; property previously used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Notwithstanding the exemptions in §55-518, if the owner of a
residential dwelling unit has actual knowledge that such residential property
was previously used to manufacture methamphetamine and has not been cleaned up
in accordance with the guidelines established pursuant to §32.1-11.7 and the
applicable licensing provisions of Chapter 11 (§54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1,
the owner shall provide to a prospective purchaser a written disclosure that so
states. Such disclosure shall be provided to the purchaser on a form provided
by the Virginia
Real Estate Board on its website
and otherwise in accordance with this chapter.
§55-520. Time for disclosure; termination of contract.
A. The owner of residential real property subject to this
chapter shall deliver provide
notification to the purchaser the
written disclosure statement of any
disclosures required by this chapter prior to the acceptance
ratification of a real estate purchase contract or
otherwise be subject to the provisions of subsection B of
this section. For the purposes of this
chapter, "acceptance" means the full execution of a real estate
purchase contract by all parties. The residential property disclosure statement may be
included in the real estate purchase contract, in an addendum thereto, or in a
separate document disclosures required by
this chapter shall be on forms provided by the Real Estate Board on its website.
B. If the disclosure statement disclosures required by this
chapter is are
delivered to the purchaser after the acceptance ratification of the real
estate purchase contract, the purchaser's sole remedy shall be to terminate the
real estate purchase contract at or prior to the earliest of (i) three days
after delivery of the disclosure statement in person or by
electronic delivery;
(ii) five days after the postmark if the disclosure statement is deposited in
the United States mail, postage prepaid, and properly addressed to the
purchaser; (iii) settlement upon purchase of the property; (iv) occupancy of
the property by the purchaser; (v) the purchaser making written application to
a lender for a mortgage loan where such application contains a disclosure that
the right of termination shall end upon the application for the mortgage loan;
or (vi) the execution by the purchaser after receiving the disclosure statement
required by this chapter of a written waiver of the purchaser's right of
termination under this chapter contained in a writing separate from the real
estate purchase contract. In order to terminate a real estate purchase contract
when permitted by this chapter, the purchaser must, within the times required
by this chapter, give written notice to the owner by one of the following
methods:
1. Hand delivery;
2. United States mail, postage prepaid, provided that the sender retains
sufficient proof of mailing, which may be either a
United States postal certificate of mailing or a
certificate of service prepared by the sender confirming such mailing;
3. Electronic means provided
the sender retains sufficient proof of the electronic delivery, which may be an
electronic receipt of delivery, a confirmation that the notice was sent by
facsimile, or a certificate of service prepared by the sender confirming the
electronic delivery; or
4. Overnight delivery using a commercial service or the United States Postal Service.
If the purchaser terminates a real estate purchase contract in compliance with this chapter, the termination shall be without penalty to the purchaser, and any deposit shall be promptly returned to the purchaser.
C. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection B of §55-524,
no purchaser of residential real property located in a noise zone designated on
the official zoning map of the locality as having a day-night average sound
level of less than 65 decibels shall have the right to terminate a real estate
purchase contract pursuant to this section for failure of the property owner to
timely provide any disclosure required by §
55-519.1 this chapter.
§55-524. Actions under this chapter.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or any other
statute or regulation, no cause of action shall arise against an owner or a
real estate licensee for failure to disclose that an
occupant of the subject real property, whether or not such real property is
subject to this chapter, was afflicted with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
or that the real property was the site of:
1. An act or occurrence which had no effect on the physical structure of the real property, its physical environment, or the improvements located thereon; or
2. A homicide, felony, or suicide.
B. The purchaser's remedies hereunder for failure of an owner to comply with the provisions of this chapter are as follows:
1. If the owner fails to provide the
disclosure statement any of the applicable
disclosures required by this chapter, the contract may be
terminated subject to the provisions of subsection B of §55-520.
2. In the event the owner fails to provide the
disclosure any of the applicable
disclosures required by §
55-519.1 this chapter,
or the owner misrepresents, willfully or otherwise, the information required in
such disclosure, except as result of information provided by an officer or
employee of the locality in which the property is located, the purchaser may
maintain an action to recover his actual damages suffered as the result of such
violation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, no purchaser of
residential real property located in a noise zone designated on the official
zoning map of the locality as having a day-night average sound level of less
than 65 decibels shall have a right to maintain an action for damages pursuant
to this section.
C. Any action brought under this
subsection section
shall be commenced within one year of the date the purchaser received the disclosure statement disclosures required by this chapter.
If no disclosure statement was the disclosures required by this chapter were not
delivered to the purchaser, an action shall be commenced within one year of the
date of settlement if by sale, or occupancy if by lease with an option to purchase.
Nothing contained herein shall prevent a purchaser from pursuing any remedies at law or equity otherwise available against an owner in the event of an owner's intentional or willful misrepresentation of the condition of the subject property.