What can I do if someone lied on a real estate disclosure statement?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What can I do if someone lied on a real estate disclosure statement?

bought home, had inspections and after closing, had plumbing issues, found out there have been major yearly plumbing/sewage problems that the seller answered “no” to on the the disclosure statement they signed. This house was a short sale but the bank hadn’t taken possession yet, but had to approve sale.

Asked on June 27, 2009 under Real Estate Law, New Jersey

Answers:

B. B., Member, New Jersey Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 14 years ago | Contributor

This is a difficult situation, and under New Jersey law it will depend on the details of the problems and the inspections that were done.  You might be able to sue the seller for fraud, although in some cases you can't do that because you had the inspections done, and the seller might succeed in arguing that you relied on the inspections, not the disclosure statements.  Again, depending on the facts, that might not work for them.  Also, you might be able to recover from the company or companies that did the inspections and missed the problems.  If you sue, you'll have to sue the sellers as well as the inspections, because New Jersey Court rules require that all the possible lawsuits from one situation like this be brought as one case.  One place to find an attorney who can handle this case is our website, www.attorneypages.com


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption