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Washington Seller’s Disclosure Law

Real Property – Seller’s Disclosures – Washington

SECTIONS

64.06.005 – Application — Definition of residential real property.

64.06.010 – Application — Exceptions for certain transfers of residential real property.

64.06.020 – Seller’s duty — Format of disclosure statement — Minimum information.

64.06.030 – Delivery of disclosure statement — Buyer’s options — Time frame.

64.06.040 – After delivery of disclosure statement — Additional information — Seller’s duty — Buyer’s options — Closing the transaction.

64.06.050 – Error, inaccuracy, or omission in disclosure statement — Actual knowledge — Liability.

64.06.060 – Consumer protection act does not apply.

64.06.070 – Buyer’s rights or remedies.

64.06.900 – Effective date — 1994 c 200.


RCW 64.06.005 -Application — Definition of residential real property.

This chapter applies only to residential real property. For purposes of this chapter, residential real property means:

(1) Real property consisting of, or improved by, one to four dwelling units;
(2) A residential condominium as defined in RCW 64.34.020(9), unless the sale is subject to the public offering statement requirement in the Washington condominium act, chapter 64.34 RCW; or
(3) A residential timeshare, as defined in RCW 64.36.010(11), unless subject to written disclosure under the Washington timeshare act, chapter 64.36 RCW.

[1994 c 200 § 1.]


RCW 64.06.010-Application — Exceptions for certain transfers of residential real property.

This chapter does not apply to the following transfers of residential real property:

(1) A foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or a sale by a lienholder who acquired the residential real property through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure;
(2) A gift or other transfer to a parent, spouse, or child of a transferor or child of any parent or spouse of a transferor;
(3) A transfer between spouses in connection with a marital dissolution;
(4) A transfer where a buyer had an ownership interest in the property within two years of the date of the transfer including, but not limited to, an ownership interest as a partner in a partnership, a limited partner in a limited partnership, a shareholder in a corporation, a leasehold interest, or transfers to and from a facilitator pursuant to a tax deferred exchange;
(5) A transfer of an interest that is less than fee simple, except that the transfer of a vendee’s interest under a real estate contract is subject to the requirements of this chapter; and
(6) A transfer made by the personal representative of the estate of the decedent or by a trustee in bankruptcy.

[1994 c 200 § 2.]


RCW 64.06.020 -Seller’s duty — Format of disclosure statement — Minimum information.

(1) In a transaction for the sale of residential real property, the seller shall, unless the buyer has expressly waived the right to receive the disclosure statement, or unless the transfer is exempt under RCW 64.06.010, deliver to the buyer a completed real property transfer disclosure statement in the following format and that contains, at a minimum, the following information:

[See USLF form WA-37014]


RCW 64.06.030 -Delivery of disclosure statement — Buyer’s options — Time frame.

Unless the buyer has expressly waived the right to receive the disclosure statement, not later than five business days or as otherwise agreed to, after mutual acceptance of a written agreement between a buyer and a seller for the purchase and sale of residential real property, the seller shall deliver to the buyer a completed, signed, and dated real property transfer disclosure statement. Within three business days, or as otherwise agreed to, of receipt of the real property transfer disclosure statement, the buyer shall have the right to exercise one of the following two options:

(1) Approving and accepting the real property transfer disclosure statement; or
(2) rescinding the agreement for the purchase and sale of the property, which decision may be made by the buyer in the buyer’s sole discretion. If the buyer elects to rescind the agreement, the buyer must deliver written notice of rescission to the seller within the three-business-day period, or as otherwise agreed to, and upon delivery of the written rescission notice the buyer shall be entitled to immediate return of all deposits and other considerations less any agreed disbursements paid to the seller, or to the seller’s agent or an escrow agent for the seller’s account, and the agreement for purchase and sale shall be void. If the buyer does not deliver a written recision notice to [the] seller within the three-business-day period, or as otherwise agreed to, the real property transfer disclosure statement will be deemed approved and accepted by the buyer.

[1996 c 301 § 3; 1994 c 200 § 4.]

RCW 64.06.040 -After delivery of disclosure statement — Additional information — Seller’s duty — Buyer’s options — Closing the transaction.

(1) If, after the date that a seller of residential real property completes a real property transfer disclosure statement, the seller becomes aware of additional information, or an adverse change occurs which makes any of the disclosures made inaccurate, the seller shall amend the real property transfer disclosure statement, and deliver the amendment to the buyer. No amendment shall be required, however, if the seller takes whatever corrective action is necessary so that the accuracy of the disclosure is restored, or the adverse change is corrected, at least three business days prior to the closing date. Unless the corrective action is completed by the seller prior to the closing date, the buyer shall have the right to exercise one of the following two options:

(a) Approving and accepting the amendment, or
(b) rescinding the agreement of purchase and sale of the property within three business days after receiving the amended real property transfer disclosure statement. Acceptance or recision shall be subject to the same procedures described in RCW 64.06.030. If the closing date provided in the purchase and sale agreement is scheduled to occur within the three-business-day rescission period provided for in this section, the closing date shall be extended until the expiration of the three-business-day rescission period. The buyer shall have no right of rescission if the seller takes whatever action is necessary so that the accuracy of the disclosure is restored at least three business days prior to the closing date.

(2) In the event any act, occurrence, or agreement arising or becoming known after the closing of a residential real property transfer causes a real property transfer disclosure statement to be inaccurate in any way, the seller of such property shall have no obligation to amend the disclosure statement, and the buyer shall not have the right to rescind the transaction under this chapter.

(3) If the seller in a residential real property transfer fails or refuses to provide to the prospective buyer a real property transfer disclosure statement as required under this chapter, the prospective buyer’s right of rescission under this section shall apply until the earlier of three business days after receipt of the real property transfer disclosure statement or the date the transfer has closed, unless the buyer has otherwise waived the right of rescission in writing. Closing is deemed to occur when the buyer has paid the purchase price, or down payment, and the conveyance document, including a deed or real estate contract, from the seller has been delivered and recorded. After closing, the seller’s obligation to deliver the real property transfer disclosure statement and the buyer’s rights and remedies under this chapter shall terminate.

[1996 c 301 § 4; 1994 c 200 § 5.]


RCW 64.06.050 -Error, inaccuracy, or omission in disclosure statement — Actual knowledge — Liability.

(1) The seller of residential real property shall not be liable for any error, inaccuracy, or omission in the real property transfer disclosure statement if the seller had no actual knowledge of the error, inaccuracy, or omission. Unless the seller of residential real property has actual knowledge of an error, inaccuracy, or omission in a real property transfer disclosure statement, the seller shall not be liable for such error, inaccuracy, or omission if the disclosure was based on information provided by public agencies, or by other persons providing information within the scope of their professional license or expertise, including, but not limited to, a report or opinion delivered by a land surveyor, title company, title insurance company, structural inspector, pest inspector, licensed engineer, or contractor.

(2) Any licensed real estate salesperson or broker involved in a residential real property transaction is not liable for any error, inaccuracy, or omission in the real property transfer disclosure statement if the licensee had no actual knowledge of the error, inaccuracy, or omission. Unless the salesperson or broker has actual knowledge of an error, inaccuracy, or omission in a real property transfer disclosure statement, the salesperson or broker shall not be liable for such error, inaccuracy, or omission if the disclosure was based on information provided by public agencies, or by other persons providing information within the scope of their professional license or expertise, including, but not limited to, a report or opinion delivered by a land surveyor, title company, title insurance company, structural inspector, pest inspector, licensed engineer, or contractor.

[1996 c 301 § 5; 1994 c 200 § 6.]


RCW 64.06.060 -Consumer protection act does not apply.

The legislature finds that the practices covered by this chapter are not matters vitally affecting the public interest for the purpose of applying the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW.

[1994 c 200 § 7.]


RCW 64.06.070 -Buyer’s rights or remedies.

Except as provided in RCW 64.06.050, nothing in this chapter shall extinguish or impair any rights or remedies of a buyer of real estate against the seller or against any agent acting for the seller otherwise existing pursuant to common law, statute, or contract; nor shall anything in this chapter create any new right or remedy for a buyer of residential real property other than the right of recision exercised on the basis and within the time limits provided in this chapter.

[1996 c 301 § 6; 1994 c 200 § 8.]


RCW 64.06.900 -Effective date — 1994 c 200.
This act shall take effect on January 1, 1995.

[1994 c 200 § 10.]

 


Inside Washington Seller’s Disclosure Law