A. The owner of residential real property subject to this chapter shall deliver to the purchaser the written disclosure statement required by this chapter prior to the acceptance 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.
B. If the disclosure statement required by this chapter is delivered to the purchaser after the acceptance 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; (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:
2. United States mail, postage prepaid, provided 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.
History
1992, c. 717; 1993, c. 818; 2005, c. 510; 2007, c. 265; 2011, c. 82.
