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S02353 Summary:

BILL NOS02353
 
SAME ASSAME AS A04820
 
SPONSORKAVANAGH
 
COSPNSRBAILEY, BRESLIN, BROUK, CLEARE, COONEY, FERNANDEZ, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON, KENNEDY, MANNION, MAY, MYRIE, PARKER, RIVERA, RYAN, SALAZAR, SEPULVEDA, SERRANO, SKOUFIS
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add Art 16 §§520 - 524, §235-aa, amd §462, RP L
 
Requires the disclosure of lead-based paint test reports in real estate transactions.
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S02353 Actions:

BILL NOS02353
 
01/20/2023REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
01/03/2024REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
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S02353 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          2353
 
                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                    January 20, 2023
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  Sens.  KAVANAGH, BAILEY, BRESLIN, BROUK, CLEARE, COONEY,
          HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON, MANNION, MAY,  MYRIE,  PARKER,  RIVERA,  RYAN,
          SALAZAR,  SEPULVEDA, SERRANO, SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered print-
          ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
 
        AN ACT to amend the real property law,  in  relation  to  requiring  the
          disclosure  of  lead-based  paint  test  reports in real estate trans-
          actions
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  Legislative  findings.  The  legislature hereby finds and
     2  declares that lead poisoning of children persists as  one  of  the  most
     3  prevalent  and  preventable  environmental  diseases  in New York State.
     4  Nearly 100,000 children were newly identified with  levels  of  lead  in
     5  their  blood at five micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) in New York state
     6  between 2011 and 2015.   Medical research indicates  that  children  can
     7  suffer  permanent  brain damage at blood levels even lower than 5mcg/dL,
     8  and that there is no level of lead ingestion  that  is  without  adverse
     9  impact.    The  predominant cause of lead poisoning in young children is
    10  the ingestion of lead particles from deteriorating or abraded lead-based
    11  paint from older and poorly maintained residences.   Although  New  York
    12  state banned the sale of lead-based paint in 1970, (l.1970, ch. 338) 74%
    13  of New York's housing stock was constructed prior to 1970 and lead-based
    14  paint  was available outside of the state until 1978. New York state has
    15  both the nation's greatest number (over 4 million  units),  the  highest
    16  percentage  (55.08%)  of  pre-1960 and pre-1950 (41.0%) housing, and the
    17  oldest housing inventory among the fifty states. At least ninety percent
    18  of lead-based paint still exists in occupied housing built before  1960.
    19  New  York  state's older housing stock places residents at great risk of
    20  exposure to lead hazards, with low-income children living in older hous-
    21  ing having the highest risk of lead poisoning. Knowledge  of  lead-based
    22  paint  hazards, their control, mitigation, abatement, and risk avoidance
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD02406-01-3

        S. 2353                             2
 
     1  is not sufficiently widespread. In addition, while federal law  requires
     2  the disclosure by sellers of real property of knowledge of the existence
     3  of  lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards, and encourages poten-
     4  tial  buyers  to  conduct  inspections for lead-based paint, these mech-
     5  anisms neither mandate that such inspections take place either by  sell-
     6  ers   or   buyers.  This  gap  in  disclosure  requirements  results  in
     7  residential property being transferred  without  any  knowledge  of  the
     8  potential  for  such  property to cause lead poisoning and the attendant
     9  liabilities.
    10    Local county health departments  lack  sufficient  information  as  to
    11  which  housing contains lead-based paint and the locations of such lead-
    12  based paint, resulting in less cost-effective prevention of lead poison-
    13  ing, avoidable harm to children's health, and wasted  public  resources.
    14  The  purposes  of  this  act are to assure that properties that have not
    15  been previously tested for lead-based paint are not  simply  transferred
    16  to  new  owners  without  knowledge of whether there is lead-based paint
    17  present, and to better utilize the existing federal  laws  that  mandate
    18  disclosure  of  lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards and to aid
    19  in the prevention of lead poisoning.  This act is not  intended  to  and
    20  does  not diminish the responsibility of buyers to carefully examine the
    21  property which they intend to purchase and public records pertaining  to
    22  the  property.  This  act is not intended to and does not limit existing
    23  responsibilities by a seller, buyer or agent concerning the condition of
    24  the property or potential liabilities or remedies at law, statute or  in
    25  equity.
    26    This  act  will  significantly improve the transfer process and better
    27  serve the interests of all parties to a home purchase. It will  increase
    28  clarity  regarding  the  nature of the property and will provide greater
    29  certainty to contracts entered into by better informed buyers and  sell-
    30  ers.  As  well,  it will provide incentive to owners to voluntarily test
    31  their property prior to sale.
    32    § 2. The real property law is amended by adding a new  article  16  to
    33  read as follows:
    34                                 ARTICLE 16
    35                       LEAD-BASED PAINT DISCLOSURE ACT
    36  Section 520. Short title.
    37          521. Definitions.
    38          522. Inspection  of  residential  real  property  for lead-based
    39                 paint prior to transfer of title.
    40          523. Duty of agent.
    41          524. Liability.
    42    § 520. Short title. This article shall be known and may  be  cited  as
    43  the "lead-based paint disclosure act".
    44    § 521. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
    45  have the following meanings:
    46    1. "Agent" shall mean a person who is licensed as a real estate broker
    47  or a real estate salesperson pursuant to section four hundred forty-a of
    48  this chapter and acting in a fiduciary capacity.
    49    2.  "Binding  contract  of  sale"  shall  mean  a real estate purchase
    50  contract or offer that would, upon signing by the seller and subject  to
    51  satisfaction  of any contingencies, require the buyer to accept a trans-
    52  fer of title.
    53    3. "Broker" shall have  the  same  meaning  as  "real  estate  broker"
    54  defined by section four hundred forty of this chapter.
    55    4.  "Buyer"  shall  mean  any  entity  that  enters into a real estate
    56  purchase contract, including but not limited  to  individuals,  partner-

        S. 2353                             3
 
     1  ships,  corporations,  trusts,  government  agencies,  housing agencies,
     2  Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations.
     3    5.  "Lead-based paint" shall mean paint or other similar surface coat-
     4  ing material containing 1.0 milligrams of lead per square centimeter  or
     5  greater,  as determined by laboratory analysis of paint samples with all
     6  layers of paint present, or by an x-ray  fluorescence  analyzer.  If  an
     7  x-ray  fluorescence  analyzer  is  used, readings shall be corrected for
     8  substrate bias when necessary as specified by the performance character-
     9  istic sheets released by  the  United  States  environmental  protection
    10  agency and the United States department of housing and urban development
    11  for  the  specific  x-ray fluorescence analyzer used. X-ray fluorescence
    12  readings shall be classified as positive, negative  or  inconclusive  in
    13  accordance with the United States department of housing and urban devel-
    14  opment  guidelines  for  the  evaluation and control of lead-based paint
    15  hazards in housing (July 2012) or successor guidelines, and the perform-
    16  ance characteristic sheets released by the United  States  environmental
    17  protection  agency and the United States department of housing and urban
    18  development for the specific x-ray  fluorescence  analyzer  used.  X-ray
    19  fluorescence  readings that fall within the inconclusive zone, as deter-
    20  mined by the performance characteristic sheets, shall  be  confirmed  by
    21  laboratory  analysis of paint chips, results shall be reported in milli-
    22  grams of lead per square centimeter and the measure of  such  laboratory
    23  analysis  shall  be definitive. If laboratory analysis is used to deter-
    24  mine lead content, results shall be reported in milligrams of  lead  per
    25  square  centimeter. Where the surface area of a paint chip sample cannot
    26  be accurately measured or if an accurately measured  paint  chip  sample
    27  cannot  be  removed, a laboratory analysis may be reported in percent by
    28  weight. In such case, lead-based paint shall mean  any  paint  or  other
    29  similar  surface-coating  material containing more than 0.009 percent of
    30  metallic lead, based on the non-volatile content of the paint  or  other
    31  similar  surface-coating  material.  In the event that the United States
    32  environmental protection agency or a successor  agency,  or  the  United
    33  States  department of housing and urban development or a successor agen-
    34  cy, or a department or agency of the state of New York that has obtained
    35  applicable authorization pursuant to 40 C.F.R. part  745  subpart  Q  or
    36  successor  regulation,  adopts  more stringent definitions of lead-based
    37  paint, such more stringent definitions shall apply for the  purposes  of
    38  this article.
    39    6. "Real estate purchase contract" shall mean any of the following:
    40    (a) a contract which provides for the purchase and sale or exchange of
    41  residential real property;
    42    (b) a lease with an option to purchase residential real property;
    43    (c) a lease-with-obligation-to-purchase agreement for residential real
    44  property; or
    45    (d) an installment land sale contract for residential real property.
    46    7.  "Residential real property" shall mean real property improved by a
    47  residential dwelling erected prior to the year nineteen  hundred  seven-
    48  ty-eight.
    49    8. "Residential dwelling" shall mean a single-family dwelling, includ-
    50  ing  attached  structures such as porches and stoops, or a single-family
    51  dwelling unit within a structure that contains more  than  one  separate
    52  residential  dwelling  unit, used or occupied, or designed to be used or
    53  occupied, wholly or partly, as the home or  residence  of  one  or  more
    54  persons whether or not it was or will be occupied.
    55    9. "Seller" shall mean any entity that intends to engage in the trans-
    56  fer  of  title  to  a buyer of residential real property, in whole or in

        S. 2353                             4
 
     1  part, including but not limited  to  individuals,  partnerships,  corpo-
     2  rations,  trusts,  government agencies, housing agencies, Indian tribes,
     3  mortgage banker, lender, and nonprofit organizations. The term  "seller"
     4  also shall mean an entity that transfers shares in a cooperatively owned
     5  project.
     6    10.  "Test for lead-based paint" shall mean a test for the presence of
     7  lead-based paint that has been conducted through both a lead hazard risk
     8  assessment and a lead-based paint inspection as  defined  in  40  C.F.R.
     9  745.103,  24  C.F.R.  35.86, and the United States department of housing
    10  and urban development guidelines for the evaluation and control of lead-
    11  based paint hazards in housing (July 2012), or successor regulations and
    12  guidelines, and a report prepared indicating the results of  such  test,
    13  including  the locations where tests were performed for lead-based paint
    14  and lead-based paint hazards and the readings of all  such  tests.  Such
    15  test shall not be valid unless performed by a person accredited pursuant
    16  to:  (a)  certification  to  conduct  lead  hazard  risk  assessment and
    17  inspections by the United States environmental protection agency  pursu-
    18  ant  to  40  C.F.R.  745.226(b)  or successor regulation; or (b) certif-
    19  ication by a state or tribal program authorized  by  the  United  States
    20  environmental  protection agency to certify individuals engaged in lead-
    21  based paint activities pursuant to 40 C.F.R. 745.325 or successor  regu-
    22  lation  or eligible to conduct the inspections required by this article.
    23  For multifamily housing, the test must be conducted in  accordance  with
    24  the United States department of housing and urban development guidelines
    25  for  the  evaluation  and control of lead-based paint hazards in housing
    26  (July 2012), or successor guidelines.
    27    11. "Transfer of title" shall mean delivery  of  a  properly  executed
    28  instrument  conveying  title  to  residential  real  property  and shall
    29  include delivery of a real estate purchase contract that is a  lease  or
    30  installment land sale contract.
    31    §  522.  Inspection  of residential real property for lead-based paint
    32  prior to transfer of title. 1. (a) Effective August first, two  thousand
    33  twenty-four,  every  seller  of  residential real property pursuant to a
    34  real estate purchase contract shall deliver to a buyer or buyer's  agent
    35  prior  to  the  signing  by  the  buyer  of a binding contract of sale a
    36  certificate that such property has been tested for lead-based paint, and
    37  provide the report of such test. A copy of  the  certificate  containing
    38  the  signature  of  the  seller  and any report of a test for lead-based
    39  paint shall be attached to the real estate purchase contract. A copy  of
    40  such  certificate  and report of such test and any subsequent reports of
    41  such tests shall be filed with the state department  of  health  in  the
    42  department  of health in the county where such residential real property
    43  is located, and such certificate shall as well be filed with the  office
    44  authorized under section three hundred seventy-two of this chapter to be
    45  registrar  of  title  in the county where such real property is located,
    46  and such office shall not accept for filing an instrument of transfer of
    47  title unless accompanied by such certificate where applicable.
    48    (b) The presentation of a certificate of such test by a prior owner of
    49  said property and evidence of filing such certificate  and  report  with
    50  the department of health in the county where such residential real prop-
    51  erty is located, shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions
    52  of this subdivision.
    53    (c)  In  the  event  the  seller has not received from a prior owner a
    54  certification and report of such tests as set forth in this subdivision,
    55  the costs of testing for lead-based  paint  and  the  preparation  of  a
    56  certificate  and report thereof as provided in this subdivision shall be

        S. 2353                             5
 
     1  deductible by the transferor or  grantor,  up  to  the  amount  of  five
     2  hundred dollars, or in a building with more than one dwelling unit up to
     3  four hundred dollars per dwelling unit tested, from the taxes imposed by
     4  sections fourteen hundred two and fourteen hundred two-a of the tax law.
     5  The transferor or grantor shall not be reimbursed for costs in excess of
     6  the  total  taxes  imposed by sections fourteen hundred two and fourteen
     7  hundred two-a of the tax law.
     8    2. Any provision in a real estate purchase contract or any other docu-
     9  ment related to the transfer of title in residential real property  that
    10  purports  to  waive any right created under state or federal law for the
    11  buyer to conduct a risk assessment or  inspection  of  the  property  to
    12  determine  the  presence  of  lead-based  paint  and/or lead-based paint
    13  hazards, or any oral agreement that purports to  waive  such  right,  is
    14  null  and void as against public policy, notwithstanding that such waiv-
    15  ers might otherwise be permitted by federal law.
    16    3. A certificate that such property has  been  tested  for  lead-based
    17  paint  shall  not  be  required  in connection with any of the following
    18  transfers of residential real property:
    19    (a) A transfer to a beneficiary of a deed of trust;
    20    (b) A transfer by a fiduciary in the course of the administration of a
    21  decedent's estate, a guardianship, a conservatorship, or a trust;
    22    (c) A transfer from one co-owner to one or more other co-owners;
    23    (d) A transfer made to the transferor's  spouse  or  to  one  or  more
    24  persons in the lineal consanguinity of one or more of the transferors;
    25    (e)  A  transfer  between  spouses  or former spouses as a result of a
    26  decree of divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment,  or  legal  sepa-
    27  ration  or as a result of property settlement, agreement incidental to a
    28  decree of divorce, dissolution of marriage,  annulment  or  legal  sepa-
    29  ration;
    30    (f)  A  transfer  to or from the state, a political subdivision of the
    31  state, or another governmental entity;
    32    (g) A transfer by a sheriff;
    33    (h) A transfer pursuant to a partition action; or
    34    (i) A transfer of an unoccupied dwelling unit or residential  property
    35  that  is  to  be demolished, provided the dwelling unit or property will
    36  remain unoccupied until demolition and lead-safe work practices  enumer-
    37  ated  in  40  C.F.R.  745  and successor regulations, or more protective
    38  state law are followed during the demolition.
    39    4. Nothing contained in  this  article  is  intended  to  prevent  the
    40  parties  to a contract of sale from entering into agreements of any kind
    41  or nature with respect to the physical condition of the property  to  be
    42  sold,  including,  but  not  limited to, agreements for the sale of real
    43  property "as is".
    44    § 523. Duty of agent. An agent representing a  seller  of  residential
    45  real  property as a listing broker, or, if the seller is not represented
    46  by an agent, the agent representing the buyer of residential real  prop-
    47  erty and dealing with a prospective seller, shall have the duty to time-
    48  ly  (in  any  event,  before the buyer signs a binding contract of sale)
    49  inform each seller of the seller's obligations under  this  article.  An
    50  agent  representing  a  buyer  of  residential real property, or, if the
    51  buyer is not represented by an agent, the agent representing a seller of
    52  residential real property and dealing with a  prospective  buyer,  shall
    53  have  the duty to timely (in any event, before the buyer signs a binding
    54  contract of sale) inform such buyer of  the  buyer's  rights  and  obli-
    55  gations  under  this  article. If an agent performs the duties and obli-
    56  gations imposed upon him or her pursuant  to  this  section,  the  agent

        S. 2353                             6
 
     1  shall  have no further duties under this article and shall not be liable
     2  to any party for a violation of this article. The  department  of  state
     3  may,  pursuant  to  section  four  hundred  forty-one-c of this chapter,
     4  revoke or suspend the license of an agent who violates this article.
     5    § 524. Liability. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed
     6  as  limiting  any  existing  legal  cause of action or remedy at law, in
     7  statute or in equity.
     8    § 3. The real property law is amended by adding a new  section  235-aa
     9  to read as follows:
    10    § 235-aa. Disclosure of lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards.
    11  1.  Prior  to  executing  a residential lease or rental agreement with a
    12  tenant, the owner of real property shall provide the tenant  a  copy  of
    13  all  reports  of a test for lead-based paint issued or prepared pursuant
    14  to section five hundred  twenty-two  of  this  chapter,  and  any  other
    15  report,  within  the  possession  or control of the owner, pertaining to
    16  lead-based paint or lead-based  paint  hazards  within  the  meaning  of
    17  section  4852d of title 42 of the United States Code and the regulations
    18  thereunder. Owners who deliver a disclosure form with all required docu-
    19  ments under the provisions of section 4852d of title 42  of  the  United
    20  States  Code  and  the  regulations  thereunder  shall be deemed to have
    21  complied with the requirements of this subdivision.
    22    2. Any agreement by a  lessee  or  tenant  of  premises  for  dwelling
    23  purposes  waiving  or  modifying  his or her rights as set forth in this
    24  section shall be void as contrary to public policy.
    25    3. An owner who violates this section shall  be  liable  for  a  civil
    26  penalty  not  to exceed ten thousand dollars, and in addition, a penalty
    27  to the tenant not to exceed the  equivalent  of  the  amount  of  rental
    28  payments  for  three  months  plus any attorney's fees.   The powers and
    29  remedies set forth in this section shall be in  addition  to  all  other
    30  existing  legal cause of action or remedy at law, in statute or in equi-
    31  ty.
    32    § 4. Subdivision 2 of section 462 of the real property law, as amended
    33  by chapter 690 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
    34    2. The following shall be the disclosure form:
    35                   PROPERTY CONDITION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
    36  NAME OF SELLER OR SELLERS:
    37  PROPERTY ADDRESS:
    38    THE PROPERTY CONDITION DISCLOSURE ACT REQUIRES THE SELLER OF  RESIDEN-
    39  TIAL  REAL PROPERTY TO CAUSE THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT OR A COPY THEREOF
    40  TO BE DELIVERED TO A BUYER OR BUYER'S AGENT PRIOR TO THE SIGNING BY  THE
    41  BUYER OF A BINDING CONTRACT OF SALE.
    42    PURPOSE  OF  STATEMENT:  THIS IS A STATEMENT OF CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND
    43  INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY KNOWN TO THE SELLER. THIS DISCLOSURE
    44  STATEMENT IS NOT A WARRANTY OF ANY KIND BY THE SELLER OR  BY  ANY  AGENT
    45  REPRESENTING  THE SELLER IN THIS TRANSACTION. IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR
    46  ANY INSPECTIONS OR TESTS AND THE BUYER IS ENCOURAGED TO  OBTAIN  HIS  OR
    47  HER OWN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL INSPECTIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS AND
    48  ALSO IS ENCOURAGED TO CHECK PUBLIC RECORDS PERTAINING TO THE PROPERTY.
    49    A  KNOWINGLY  FALSE OR INCOMPLETE STATEMENT BY THE SELLER ON THIS FORM
    50  MAY SUBJECT THE SELLER TO CLAIMS BY THE BUYER  PRIOR  TO  OR  AFTER  THE
    51  TRANSFER  OF  TITLE.    IN  THE EVENT A SELLER FAILS TO PERFORM THE DUTY
    52  PRESCRIBED IN THIS ARTICLE TO DELIVER A DISCLOSURE  STATEMENT  PRIOR  TO
    53  THE  SIGNING BY THE BUYER OF A BINDING CONTRACT OF SALE, THE BUYER SHALL
    54  RECEIVE UPON THE TRANSFER OF TITLE A  CREDIT  OF  FIVE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS
    55  AGAINST THE AGREED UPON PURCHASE PRICE OF THE RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY.

        S. 2353                             7
 
     1    "RESIDENTIAL  REAL  PROPERTY" MEANS REAL PROPERTY IMPROVED BY A ONE TO
     2  FOUR FAMILY DWELLING USED OR OCCUPIED, OR INTENDED TO BE USED  OR  OCCU-
     3  PIED, WHOLLY OR PARTLY, AS THE HOME OR RESIDENCE OF ONE OR MORE PERSONS,
     4  BUT  SHALL  NOT  REFER  TO  (A) UNIMPROVED REAL PROPERTY UPON WHICH SUCH
     5  DWELLINGS  ARE TO BE CONSTRUCTED OR (B) CONDOMINIUM UNITS OR COOPERATIVE
     6  APARTMENTS OR (C) PROPERTY ON A  HOMEOWNERS'  ASSOCIATION  THAT  IS  NOT
     7  OWNED IN FEE SIMPLE BY THE SELLER.
 
     8  INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SELLER:
     9    (a) ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS BASED UPON YOUR ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE.
    10    (b) ATTACH ADDITIONAL PAGES WITH YOUR SIGNATURE IF ADDITIONAL SPACE IS
    11  REQUIRED.
    12    (c) COMPLETE THIS FORM YOURSELF.
    13    (d)  IF  SOME ITEMS DO NOT APPLY TO YOUR PROPERTY, CHECK "NA" (NON-AP-
    14  PLICABLE). IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER CHECK "UNKN" (UNKNOWN).
 
    15    SELLER'S STATEMENT: THE SELLER MAKES THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTATIONS  TO
    16  THE  BUYER BASED UPON THE SELLER'S ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AT THE TIME OF SIGN-
    17  ING THIS DOCUMENT. THE SELLER AUTHORIZES HIS OR HER AGENT,  IF  ANY,  TO
    18  PROVIDE  A COPY OF THIS STATEMENT TO A PROSPECTIVE BUYER OF THE RESIDEN-
    19  TIAL REAL PROPERTY. THE FOLLOWING ARE REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY THE SELLER
    20  AND ARE NOT THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER'S AGENT.
    21  GENERAL INFORMATION
    22    1. HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED THE PROPERTY?
    23    2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU OCCUPIED THE PROPERTY?
    24    3. WHAT IS THE AGE OF THE STRUCTURE OR STRUCTURES? NOTE  TO  BUYER--IF
    25       THE  STRUCTURE WAS BUILT BEFORE 1978 YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO INVESTI-
    26       GATE FOR THE PRESENCE OF LEAD BASED PAINT HAZARDS. IN ADDITION, NEW
    27       YORK REAL PROPERTY LAW REQUIRES THE SELLER TO PRODUCE  THE  RESULTS
    28       OF  A TEST OF ALL THE PAINTED SURFACES FOR LEAD, OR TO CONDUCT SUCH
    29       TEST IF NOT PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED.
    30    4. DOES ANYBODY OTHER THAN YOURSELF HAVE  A  LEASE,  EASEMENT  OR  ANY
    31       OTHER  RIGHT  TO USE OR OCCUPY ANY PART OF YOUR PROPERTY OTHER THAN
    32       THOSE STATED IN DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC RECORD,  SUCH  AS
    33       RIGHTS TO USE A ROAD OR PATH OR CUT TREES OR CROPS. YES NO UNKN NA
    34    5. DOES  ANYBODY  ELSE CLAIM TO OWN ANY PART OF YOUR PROPERTY?  YES NO
    35       UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    36    6. HAS ANYONE DENIED YOU ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY OR MADE A FORMAL LEGAL
    37       CLAIM CHALLENGING YOUR TITLE TO THE PROPERTY? YES NO  UNKN  NA  (IF
    38       YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    39    7. ARE  THERE  ANY  FEATURES  OF  THE  PROPERTY  SHARED IN COMMON WITH
    40       ADJOINING LAND OWNERS OR A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, SUCH  AS  WALLS,
    41       FENCES OR DRIVEWAYS? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES DESCRIBE BELOW)
    42    8. ARE  THERE  ANY  ELECTRIC OR GAS UTILITY SURCHARGES FOR LINE EXTEN-
    43       SIONS, SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS OR HOMEOWNER OR OTHER  ASSOCIATION  FEES
    44       THAT APPLY TO THE PROPERTY? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    45    9. ARE  THERE  CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY RELATED TO THE PROPERTY?  YES
    46       NO UNKN NA (IF NO, EXPLAIN BELOW)
 
    47  ENVIRONMENTAL
    48    NOTE TO SELLER - IN THIS SECTION, YOU WILL BE ASKED QUESTIONS  REGARD-
    49  ING  PETROLEUM  PRODUCTS AND HAZARDOUS OR TOXIC SUBSTANCES THAT YOU KNOW
    50  TO HAVE BEEN SPILLED, LEAKED OR OTHERWISE BEEN RELEASED ON THE  PROPERTY
    51  OR  FROM  THE  PROPERTY  ONTO ANY OTHER PROPERTY. PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAY
    52  INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, GASOLINE,  DIESEL  FUEL,  HOME  HEATING
    53  FUEL,  AND  LUBRICANTS.  HAZARDOUS  OR  TOXIC SUBSTANCES ARE PRODUCTS OR

        S. 2353                             8
 
     1  OTHER MATERIAL THAT COULD POSE SHORT- OR LONG-TERM  DANGER  TO  PERSONAL
     2  HEALTH  OR THE ENVIRONMENT IF THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY DISPOSED OF, APPLIED
     3  OR STORED.  THESE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO,  FERTILIZERS,  PESTI-
     4  CIDES  AND  INSECTICIDES, PAINT INCLUDING PAINT THINNER, VARNISH REMOVER
     5  AND WOOD PRESERVATIVES, TREATED WOOD,  CONSTRUCTION  MATERIALS  SUCH  AS
     6  ASPHALT AND ROOFING MATERIALS, ANTIFREEZE AND OTHER AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS,
     7  BATTERIES,  CLEANING  SOLVENTS INCLUDING SEPTIC TANK CLEANERS, HOUSEHOLD
     8  CLEANERS, POOL CHEMICALS,  PRODUCTS  CONTAINING  MERCURY  AND  LEAD  AND
     9  INDOOR MOLD.
 
    10    NOTE  TO  BUYER  -  IF  CONTAMINATION  OF THIS PROPERTY FROM PETROLEUM
    11  PRODUCTS AND/OR HAZARDOUS OR TOXIC SUBSTANCES IS A CONCERN TO  YOU,  YOU
    12  ARE URGED TO CONSIDER SOIL AND GROUNDWATER TESTING OF THIS PROPERTY.  IF
    13  LEAD  IN  DRINKING  WATER IS A CONCERN TO YOU, YOU ARE URGED TO HAVE THE
    14  PLUMBING EXAMINED, INCLUDING THE SERVICE LINE.
 
    15    10. IS ANY OR ALL OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED IN A DESIGNATED  FLOODPLAIN?
    16        YES  NO  UNKN  NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    17    11. IS  ANY  OR  ALL  OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED IN A DESIGNATED WETLAND?
    18        YES  NO  UNKN  NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    19    12. IS THE PROPERTY LOCATED IN AN AGRICULTURAL  DISTRICT?    YES    NO
    20        UNKN  NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    21    13. WAS  THE  PROPERTY EVER THE SITE OF A LANDFILL?  YES  NO  UNKN  NA
    22        (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    23    14. ARE THERE OR HAVE THERE EVER BEEN  FUEL  STORAGE  TANKS  ABOVE  OR
    24        BELOW  THE GROUND ON THE PROPERTY?  YES  NO  UNKN  NA  IF YES, ARE
    25        THEY CURRENTLY IN USE? YES NO UNKN NA LOCATION(S) ARE THEY LEAKING
    26        OR HAVE THEY EVER LEAKED? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    27    15. IS THERE ASBESTOS IN THE STRUCTURE? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES,  STATE
    28        LOCATION OR LOCATIONS BELOW)
    29    16. IS  LEAD  PLUMBING PRESENT? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, STATE LOCATION
    30        OR LOCATIONS BELOW)
    31    17. HAS A RADON TEST BEEN DONE? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, ATTACH A  COPY
    32        OF THE REPORT)
    33    18. HAS  MOTOR  FUEL, MOTOR OIL, HOME HEATING FUEL, LUBRICATING OIL OR
    34        ANY OTHER PETROLEUM PRODUCT, METHANE  GAS,  OR  ANY  HAZARDOUS  OR
    35        TOXIC  SUBSTANCE SPILLED, LEAKED OR OTHERWISE BEEN RELEASED ON THE
    36        PROPERTY OR FROM THE PROPERTY ONTO ANY OTHER  PROPERTY?    YES  NO
    37        UNKN NA (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
    38    19. HAS THE PROPERTY BEEN TESTED FOR THE PRESENCE OF MOTOR FUEL, MOTOR
    39        OIL,  HOME  HEATING  FUEL, LUBRICATING OIL, OR ANY OTHER PETROLEUM
    40        PRODUCT, METHANE GAS, OR ANY HAZARDOUS OR TOXIC SUBSTANCE? YES  NO
    41        UNKN NA (IF YES, ATTACH REPORT(S))
    42    19-a.    HAS THE PROPERTY BEEN TESTED FOR INDOOR MOLD? YES NO UNKN (IF
    43        YES, ATTACH A COPY OF THE REPORT)
 
    44  STRUCTURAL
    45    20. IS THERE ANY ROT OR WATER DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE  OR  STRUCTURES?
    46        YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    47    21. IS  THERE ANY FIRE OR SMOKE DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE OR STRUCTURES?
    48        YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    49    22. IS THERE ANY  TERMITE,  INSECT,  RODENT  OR  PEST  INFESTATION  OR
    50        DAMAGE?  YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    51    23. HAS  THE  PROPERTY BEEN TESTED FOR TERMITE, INSECT, RODENT OR PEST
    52        INFESTATION OR DAMAGE? YES NO  UNKN  NA  (IF  YES,  PLEASE  ATTACH
    53        REPORT(S))

        S. 2353                             9
 
     1    24. WHAT  IS  THE TYPE OF ROOF/ROOF COVERING (SLATE, ASPHALT, OTHER.)?
     2        ANY KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECTS? HOW OLD IS THE ROOF? IS THERE A TRANS-
     3        FERABLE WARRANTEE ON THE ROOF IN EFFECT NOW? YES NO  UNKN  NA  (IF
     4        YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
     5    25. ARE  THERE  ANY  KNOWN  MATERIAL  DEFECTS  IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
     6        STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS: FOOTINGS, BEAMS, GIRDERS, LINTELS, COLUMNS  OR
     7        PARTITIONS. YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
 
     8  MECHANICAL SYSTEMS & SERVICES
     9    26. WHAT  IS  THE WATER SOURCE (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY - WELL, PRIVATE,
    10        MUNICIPAL, OTHER)? IF MUNICIPAL, IS IT METERED? YES NO UNKN NA
    11    27. HAS THE WATER QUALITY AND/OR FLOW RATE BEEN TESTED? YES NO UNKN NA
    12        (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
    13    28. WHAT IS THE TYPE OF SEWAGE SYSTEM (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY -  PUBLIC
    14        SEWER, PRIVATE SEWER, SEPTIC OR CESSPOOL)?  IF SEPTIC OR CESSPOOL,
    15        AGE?  ________  DATE  LAST  PUMPED? ________ FREQUENCY OF PUMPING?
    16        ________ ANY KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECTS?   YES NO  UNKN  NA  (IF  YES,
    17        EXPLAIN BELOW)
    18    29. WHO IS YOUR ELECTRIC SERVICE PROVIDER? ________ WHAT IS THE AMPER-
    19        AGE?  ________  DOES  IT  HAVE CIRCUIT BREAKERS OR FUSES? ________
    20        PRIVATE OR PUBLIC POLES? ________ ANY KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECTS?  YES
    21        NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    22    30. ARE THERE ANY FLOODING, DRAINAGE OR GRADING PROBLEMS THAT RESULTED
    23        IN  STANDING  WATER ON ANY PORTION OF THE PROPERTY? YES NO UNKN NA
    24        (IF YES, STATE LOCATIONS AND EXPLAIN BELOW)
    25    31. DOES THE BASEMENT HAVE SEEPAGE THAT RESULTS IN STANDING WATER? YES
    26        NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
    27        ARE THERE ANY KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECTS IN ANY OF THE  FOLLOWING  (IF
    28        YES, EXPLAIN BELOW. USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS IF NECESSARY.):
    29    32. PLUMBING SYSTEM?            YES NO UNKN NA
    30    33. SECURITY SYSTEM?            YES NO UNKN NA
    31    34. CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR?   YES NO UNKN NA
    32    35. SMOKE DETECTOR?             YES NO UNKN NA
    33    36. FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM?      YES NO UNKN NA
    34    37. SUMP PUMP?                  YES NO UNKN NA
    35    38. FOUNDATION/SLAB?            YES NO UNKN NA
    36    39. INTERIOR WALLS/CEILINGS?    YES NO UNKN NA
    37    40. EXTERIOR WALLS OR SIDING?   YES NO UNKN NA
    38    41. FLOORS?                     YES NO UNKN NA
    39    42. CHIMNEY/FIREPLACE OR STOVE? YES NO UNKN NA
    40    43. PATIO/DECK?                 YES NO UNKN NA
    41    44. DRIVEWAY?                   YES NO UNKN NA
    42    45. AIR CONDITIONER?            YES NO UNKN NA
    43    46. HEATING SYSTEM?             YES NO UNKN NA
    44    47. HOT WATER HEATER?           YES NO UNKN NA
    45    48. THE  PROPERTY  IS LOCATED IN THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICT    UNKN
    46       NOTE: BUYER IS ENCOURAGED TO CHECK PUBLIC  RECORDS  CONCERNING  THE
    47       PROPERTY (E.G. TAX RECORDS AND WETLAND AND FLOOD PLAIN MAPS)
    48    THE  SELLER SHOULD USE THIS AREA TO FURTHER EXPLAIN ANY ITEM ABOVE. IF
    49  NECESSARY, ATTACH ADDITIONAL PAGES AND INDICATE HERE THE NUMBER OF ADDI-
    50  TIONAL PAGES ATTACHED.
    51    ______________________________________________________________
    52    ______________________________________________________________
    53    ______________________________________________________________
    54    ______________________________________________________________

        S. 2353                            10
 
     1    SELLER'S CERTIFICATION: SELLER CERTIFIES THAT THE INFORMATION IN  THIS
     2  PROPERTY  CONDITION  DISCLOSURE  STATEMENT  IS  TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE
     3  SELLER'S ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AS OF THE DATE SIGNED  BY  THE  SELLER.  IF  A
     4  SELLER  OF  RESIDENTIAL  REAL  PROPERTY ACQUIRES KNOWLEDGE WHICH RENDERS
     5  MATERIALLY INACCURATE A PROPERTY CONDITION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT PROVIDED
     6  PREVIOUSLY,  THE  SELLER  SHALL  DELIVER  A  REVISED  PROPERTY CONDITION
     7  DISCLOSURE STATEMENT TO THE BUYER AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. IN  NO  EVENT,
     8  HOWEVER, SHALL A SELLER BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A REVISED PROPERTY CONDI-
     9  TION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT AFTER THE TRANSFER OF TITLE FROM THE SELLER TO
    10  THE BUYER OR OCCUPANCY BY THE BUYER, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER.
    11    SELLER__________ DATE___________
    12    SELLER__________ DATE___________
    13    BUYER'S  ACKNOWLEDGMENT:  BUYER ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF A COPY OF THIS
    14  STATEMENT AND BUYER UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS INFORMATION IS A STATEMENT  OF
    15  CERTAIN  CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY KNOWN TO THE
    16  SELLER. IT IS NOT A WARRANTY OF ANY KIND BY THE SELLER OR SELLER'S AGENT
    17  AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR ANY HOME, PEST, RADON OR  OTHER  INSPECTIONS
    18  OR TESTING OF THE PROPERTY OR INSPECTION OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS.
    19    BUYER__________ DATE__________
    20    BUYER__________ DATE _________
 
    21    §  5.  This  act  shall take effect August 1, 2024; provided, however,
    22  that if chapter 690 of the laws of 2022 shall not have taken  effect  on
    23  or  before  such date then section four of this act shall take effect on
    24  the same date and in the same manner as such  chapter  of  the  laws  of
    25  2022,  takes  effect.  Effective  immediately,  the addition, amendment,
    26  and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
    27  of this act on  its  effective  date  are  authorized  to  be  made  and
    28  completed on or before such effective date.
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