NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A6608A
SPONSOR: Rivera JD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the real property law, in relation to requiring the
disclosure of lead-based paint test reports in real estate transactions
 
PURPOSE OF BILL:
This bill requires property owners to conduct lead paint tests and
provide the reports of such test before selling or leasing the property.
By requiring that these test reports also be submitted to the Department
of Health, New York takes a first step towards tracking and mitigating
its worst-in-the-nation lead poisoning crisis.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill sets forth legislative findings.
Section 2 of the bill creates a new Article 16 to the real property law
enacting the "Lead-based Paint Disclosure Act".
Section 521 of the act sets forth definitions.
Section 522 of the act requires that a building owner must provide to
any buyer, a certificate that such property has been tested for lead-
based paint, and provide the report of such test before executing any
sale of the property. This section also requires that the building owner
file such certificate and reports with the State Department of Health in
the relevant County. This section also prohibits any local title office
from accepting an instrument of transfer of title unless the required a
certificate is provided. Building owners who need to conduct necessary
lead-based paint testing may deduct the cost of such tests from the
taxes owed on the sale of the property.
Section 523 of the act sets forth the duty placed upon agents represent-
ing either the buyer or seller of the property. Agents shall have the
duty to inform their respective party of the rights and requirements
under this law. If one party is not represented by an agent, the agent
of the represented party also has a duty to inform the unrepresented
party.
Section 524 of the act prevents the limitation of any existing legal
cause of action or remedy by this law.
Section 3 of the bill adds Section 235-aa to the real property law
requiring the disclosure of all lead-based paint test reports prior to
executing any residential lease. This section also sets forth penalties
for owners who violate this section.
Section 4 of the bill amends Section 462 of the real property law to
include the newly created disclosure requirements onto the Property
Condition Disclosure Statement.
Section 5 This act shall take effect August 1, 2022. Effective imme-
diately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regu-
lation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective
date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Despite federal policies phasing out lead from paint and gasoline in the
1970s, states have largely been left to develop their own lead poisoning
prevention policy. While New York has been a leader in lead policy, the
legacy of lead continues to pose a threat to New Yorkers through contam-
inated house dust, old paint, soil, and water. The main sources of lead
exposure vary from one place to another, but in New York the biggest
catalysts of lead poisoning are the lead hazards in pre-1978 housing.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York
has more children identified with elevated blood lead levels than any
other states. Over 100,000 young children in the state may have a blood
lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter (pg/dL) or higher. According
to the Council on Environmental Health, lead-based paint hazards are the
most significant sources of exposure in children. New York also has the
nation's greatest number of housing units, the highest percentage of
pre-1960 and pre-1950 housing, and the oldest housing inventory among
the 50 states. This older housing stock places New Yorkers at greater
risk of exposure to lead hazards. Lead is widely recognized as an issue
of environmental justice because low-income children living in older
housing has the highest risk of lead poisoning.
The mandated disclosure of lead-paint test reports provided for in this
bill will ensure that tenants and homeowners in New York can choose to
move into buildings free of any unknown lead-paint hazards. This bill
will also give state health officials the knowledge of which properties
do and do not have lead paint hazards. By making this information
public, the private market will encourage proactive repair and mainte-
nance to address lead paint hazards.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2020: 58830 (Kavanagh) - RULES.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect August 1, 2022.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6608--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 19, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. J. D. RIVERA, CONRAD, RODRIGUEZ, BENEDETTO, GOTT-
FRIED, DINOWITZ, SEPTIMO, SIMON, RICHARDSON, JACKSON, SILLITTI, McDO-
NOUGH, GLICK, FRONTUS, FERNANDEZ, REYES, BRONSON, CLARK, HEVESI,
SEAWRIGHT, LUNSFORD -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Judiciary -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes --
reported and referred to the Committee on Rules -- Rules Committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to the Committee on Rules
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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06488-03-1
A. 6608--A 2
1 New York state's older housing stock places residents at great risk of
2 exposure to lead hazards, with low-income children living in older hous-
3 ing having the highest risk of lead poisoning. Knowledge of lead-based
4 paint hazards, their control, mitigation, abatement, and risk avoidance
5 is not sufficiently widespread. In addition, while federal law requires
6 the disclosure by sellers of real property of knowledge of the existence
7 of lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards, and encourages poten-
8 tial buyers to conduct inspections for lead-based paint, these mech-
9 anisms neither mandate that such inspections take place either by sell-
10 ers or buyers. This gap in disclosure requirements results in
11 residential property being transferred without any knowledge of the
12 potential for such property to cause lead poisoning and the attendant
13 liabilities.
14 Local county health departments lack sufficient information as to
15 which housing contains lead-based paint and the locations of such lead-
16 based paint, resulting in less cost-effective prevention of lead poison-
17 ing, avoidable harm to children's health, and wasted public resources.
18 The purposes of this act are to assure that properties that have not
19 been previously tested for lead-based paint are not simply transferred
20 to new owners without knowledge of whether there is lead-based paint
21 present, and to better utilize the existing federal laws that mandate
22 disclosure of lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards and to aid
23 in the prevention of lead poisoning. This act is not intended to and
24 does not diminish the responsibility of buyers to carefully examine the
25 property which they intend to purchase and public records pertaining to
26 the property. This act is not intended to and does not limit existing
27 responsibilities by a seller, buyer or agent concerning the condition of
28 the property or potential liabilities or remedies at law, statute or in
29 equity.
30 This act will significantly improve the transfer process and better
31 serve the interests of all parties to a home purchase. It will increase
32 clarity regarding the nature of the property and will provide greater
33 certainty to contracts entered into by better informed buyers and sell-
34 ers. As well, it will provide incentive to owners to voluntarily test
35 their property prior to sale.
36 § 2. The real property law is amended by adding a new article 16 to
37 read as follows:
38 ARTICLE 16
39 LEAD-BASED PAINT DISCLOSURE ACT
40 Section 520. Short title.
41 521. Definitions.
42 522. Inspection of residential real property for lead-based
43 paint prior to transfer of title.
44 523. Duty of agent.
45 524. Liability.
46 § 520. Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited as
47 the "lead-based paint disclosure act".
48 § 521. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
49 have the following meanings:
50 1. "Agent" shall mean a person who is licensed as a real estate broker
51 or a real estate salesperson pursuant to section four hundred forty-a of
52 this chapter and acting in a fiduciary capacity.
53 2. "Binding contract of sale" shall mean a real estate purchase
54 contract or offer that would, upon signing by the seller and subject to
55 satisfaction of any contingencies, require the buyer to accept a trans-
56 fer of title.
A. 6608--A 3
1 3. "Broker" shall have the same meaning as "real estate broker"
2 defined by section four hundred forty of this chapter.
3 4. "Buyer" shall mean any entity that enters into a real estate
4 purchase contract, including but not limited to individuals, partner-
5 ships, corporations, trusts, government agencies, housing agencies,
6 Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations.
7 5. "Lead-based paint" shall mean paint or other similar surface coat-
8 ing material containing 1.0 milligrams of lead per square centimeter or
9 greater, as determined by laboratory analysis of paint samples with all
10 layers of paint present, or by an x-ray fluorescence analyzer. If an
11 x-ray fluorescence analyzer is used, readings shall be corrected for
12 substrate bias when necessary as specified by the performance character-
13 istic sheets released by the United States environmental protection
14 agency and the United States department of housing and urban development
15 for the specific x-ray fluorescence analyzer used. X-ray fluorescence
16 readings shall be classified as positive, negative or inconclusive in
17 accordance with the United States department of housing and urban devel-
18 opment guidelines for the evaluation and control of lead-based paint
19 hazards in housing (July 2012) or successor guidelines, and the perform-
20 ance characteristic sheets released by the United States environmental
21 protection agency and the United States department of housing and urban
22 development for the specific x-ray fluorescence analyzer used. X-ray
23 fluorescence readings that fall within the inconclusive zone, as deter-
24 mined by the performance characteristic sheets, shall be confirmed by
25 laboratory analysis of paint chips, results shall be reported in milli-
26 grams of lead per square centimeter and the measure of such laboratory
27 analysis shall be definitive. If laboratory analysis is used to deter-
28 mine lead content, results shall be reported in milligrams of lead per
29 square centimeter. Where the surface area of a paint chip sample cannot
30 be accurately measured or if an accurately measured paint chip sample
31 cannot be removed, a laboratory analysis may be reported in percent by
32 weight. In such case, lead-based paint shall mean any paint or other
33 similar surface-coating material containing more than 0.009 percent of
34 metallic lead, based on the non-volatile content of the paint or other
35 similar surface-coating material. In the event that the United States
36 environmental protection agency or a successor agency, or the United
37 States department of housing and urban development or a successor agen-
38 cy, or a department or agency of the state of New York that has obtained
39 applicable authorization pursuant to 40 C.F.R. part 745 subpart Q or
40 successor regulation, adopts more stringent definitions of lead-based
41 paint, such more stringent definitions shall apply for the purposes of
42 this article.
43 6. "Real estate purchase contract" shall mean any of the following:
44 (a) a contract which provides for the purchase and sale or exchange of
45 residential real property;
46 (b) a lease with an option to purchase residential real property;
47 (c) a lease-with-obligation-to-purchase agreement for residential real
48 property; or
49 (d) an installment land sale contract for residential real property.
50 7. "Residential real property" shall mean real property improved by a
51 residential dwelling erected prior to the year nineteen hundred seven-
52 ty-eight.
53 8. "Residential dwelling" shall mean a single-family dwelling, includ-
54 ing attached structures such as porches and stoops, or a single-family
55 dwelling unit within a structure that contains more than one separate
56 residential dwelling unit, used or occupied, or designed to be used or
A. 6608--A 4
1 occupied, wholly or partly, as the home or residence of one or more
2 persons whether or not it was or will be occupied.
3 9. "Seller" shall mean any entity that intends to engage in the trans-
4 fer of title to a buyer of residential real property, in whole or in
5 part, including but not limited to individuals, partnerships, corpo-
6 rations, trusts, government agencies, housing agencies, Indian tribes,
7 mortgage banker, lender, and nonprofit organizations. The term "seller"
8 also shall mean an entity that transfers shares in a cooperatively owned
9 project.
10 10. "Test for lead-based paint" shall mean a test for the presence of
11 lead-based paint that has been conducted through both a lead hazard risk
12 assessment and a lead-based paint inspection as defined in 40 C.F.R.
13 745.103, 24 C.F.R. 35.86, and the United States department of housing
14 and urban development guidelines for the evaluation and control of lead-
15 based paint hazards in housing (July 2012), or successor regulations and
16 guidelines, and a report prepared indicating the results of such test,
17 including the locations where tests were performed for lead-based paint
18 and lead-based paint hazards and the readings of all such tests. Such
19 test shall not be valid unless performed by a person accredited pursuant
20 to: (a) certification to conduct lead hazard risk assessment and
21 inspections by the United States environmental protection agency pursu-
22 ant to 40 C.F.R. 745.226(b) or successor regulation; or (b) certif-
23 ication by a state or tribal program authorized by the United States
24 environmental protection agency to certify individuals engaged in lead-
25 based paint activities pursuant to 40 C.F.R. 745.325 or successor regu-
26 lation or eligible to conduct the inspections required by this article.
27 For multifamily housing, the test must be conducted in accordance with
28 the United States department of housing and urban development guidelines
29 for the evaluation and control of lead-based paint hazards in housing
30 (July 2012), or successor guidelines.
31 11. "Transfer of title" shall mean delivery of a properly executed
32 instrument conveying title to residential real property and shall
33 include delivery of a real estate purchase contract that is a lease or
34 installment land sale contract.
35 § 522. Inspection of residential real property for lead-based paint
36 prior to transfer of title. 1. (a) Effective August first, two thousand
37 twenty-two, every seller of residential real property pursuant to a real
38 estate purchase contract shall deliver to a buyer or buyer's agent prior
39 to the signing by the buyer of a binding contract of sale a certificate
40 that such property has been tested for lead-based paint, and provide the
41 report of such test. A copy of the certificate containing the signature
42 of the seller and any report of a test for lead-based paint shall be
43 attached to the real estate purchase contract. A copy of such certif-
44 icate and report of such test and any subsequent reports of such tests
45 shall be filed with the state department of health in the department of
46 health in the county where such residential real property is located,
47 and such certificate shall as well be filed with the office authorized
48 under section three hundred seventy-two of this chapter to be registrar
49 of title in the county where such real property is located, and such
50 office shall not accept for filing an instrument of transfer of title
51 unless accompanied by such certificate where applicable.
52 (b) The presentation of a certificate of such test by a prior owner of
53 said property and evidence of filing such certificate and report with
54 the department of health in the county where such residential real prop-
55 erty is located, shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions
56 of this subdivision.
A. 6608--A 5
1 (c) In the event the seller has not received from a prior owner a
2 certification and report of such tests as set forth in this subdivision,
3 the costs of testing for lead-based paint and the preparation of a
4 certificate and report thereof as provided in this subdivision shall be
5 deductible by the transferor or grantor, up to the amount of five
6 hundred dollars, or in a building with more than one dwelling unit up to
7 four hundred dollars per dwelling unit tested, from the taxes imposed by
8 sections fourteen hundred two and fourteen hundred two-a of the tax law.
9 The transferor or grantor shall not be reimbursed for costs in excess of
10 the total taxes imposed by sections fourteen hundred two and fourteen
11 hundred two-a of the tax law.
12 2. Any provision in a real estate purchase contract or any other docu-
13 ment related to the transfer of title in residential real property that
14 purports to waive any right created under state or federal law for the
15 buyer to conduct a risk assessment or inspection of the property to
16 determine the presence of lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint
17 hazards, or any oral agreement that purports to waive such right, is
18 null and void as against public policy, notwithstanding that such waiv-
19 ers might otherwise be permitted by federal law.
20 3. A certificate that such property has been tested for lead-based
21 paint shall not be required in connection with any of the following
22 transfers of residential real property:
23 (a) A transfer to a beneficiary of a deed of trust;
24 (b) A transfer by a fiduciary in the course of the administration of a
25 decedent's estate, a guardianship, a conservatorship, or a trust;
26 (c) A transfer from one co-owner to one or more other co-owners;
27 (d) A transfer made to the transferor's spouse or to one or more
28 persons in the lineal consanguinity of one or more of the transferors;
29 (e) A transfer between spouses or former spouses as a result of a
30 decree of divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment, or legal sepa-
31 ration or as a result of property settlement, agreement incidental to a
32 decree of divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment or legal sepa-
33 ration;
34 (f) A transfer to or from the state, a political subdivision of the
35 state, or another governmental entity;
36 (g) A transfer by a sheriff;
37 (h) A transfer pursuant to a partition action; or
38 (i) A transfer of an unoccupied dwelling unit or residential property
39 that is to be demolished, provided the dwelling unit or property will
40 remain unoccupied until demolition and lead-safe work practices enumer-
41 ated in 40 C.F.R. 745 and successor regulations, or more protective
42 state law are followed during the demolition.
43 4. Nothing contained in this article is intended to prevent the
44 parties to a contract of sale from entering into agreements of any kind
45 or nature with respect to the physical condition of the property to be
46 sold, including, but not limited to, agreements for the sale of real
47 property "as is".
48 § 523. Duty of agent. An agent representing a seller of residential
49 real property as a listing broker, or, if the seller is not represented
50 by an agent, the agent representing the buyer of residential real prop-
51 erty and dealing with a prospective seller, shall have the duty to time-
52 ly (in any event, before the buyer signs a binding contract of sale)
53 inform each seller of the seller's obligations under this article. An
54 agent representing a buyer of residential real property, or, if the
55 buyer is not represented by an agent, the agent representing a seller of
56 residential real property and dealing with a prospective buyer, shall
A. 6608--A 6
1 have the duty to timely (in any event, before the buyer signs a binding
2 contract of sale) inform such buyer of the buyer's rights and obli-
3 gations under this article. If an agent performs the duties and obli-
4 gations imposed upon him or her pursuant to this section, the agent
5 shall have no further duties under this article and shall not be liable
6 to any party for a violation of this article. The department of state
7 may, pursuant to section four hundred forty-one-c of this chapter,
8 revoke or suspend the license of an agent who violates this article.
9 § 524. Liability. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed
10 as limiting any existing legal cause of action or remedy at law, in
11 statute or in equity.
12 § 3. The real property law is amended by adding a new section 235-aa
13 to read as follows:
14 § 235-aa. Disclosure of lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards.
15 1. Prior to executing a residential lease or rental agreement with a
16 tenant, the owner of real property shall provide the tenant a copy of
17 all reports of a test for lead-based paint issued or prepared pursuant
18 to section five hundred twenty-two of this chapter, and any other
19 report, within the possession or control of the owner, pertaining to
20 lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards within the meaning of
21 section 4852d of title 42 of the United States Code and the regulations
22 thereunder. Owners who deliver a disclosure form with all required docu-
23 ments under the provisions of section 4852d of title 42 of the United
24 States Code and the regulations thereunder shall be deemed to have
25 complied with the requirements of this subdivision.
26 2. Any agreement by a lessee or tenant of premises for dwelling
27 purposes waiving or modifying his or her rights as set forth in this
28 section shall be void as contrary to public policy.
29 3. An owner who violates this section shall be liable for a civil
30 penalty not to exceed ten thousand dollars, and in addition, a penalty
31 to the tenant not to exceed the equivalent of the amount of rental
32 payments for three months plus any attorney's fees. The powers and
33 remedies set forth in this section shall be in addition to all other
34 existing legal cause of action or remedy at law, in statute or in equi-
35 ty.
36 § 4. Subdivision 2 of section 462 of the real property law, as added
37 by chapter 456 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
38 2. The following shall be the disclosure form:
39 PROPERTY CONDITION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
40 NAME OF SELLER OR SELLERS:
41 PROPERTY ADDRESS:
42 THE PROPERTY CONDITION DISCLOSURE ACT REQUIRES THE SELLER OF RESIDEN-
43 TIAL REAL PROPERTY TO CAUSE THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT OR A COPY THEREOF
44 TO BE DELIVERED TO A BUYER OR BUYER'S AGENT PRIOR TO THE SIGNING BY THE
45 BUYER OF A BINDING CONTRACT OF SALE.
46 PURPOSE OF STATEMENT: THIS IS A STATEMENT OF CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND
47 INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY KNOWN TO THE SELLER. THIS DISCLOSURE
48 STATEMENT IS NOT A WARRANTY OF ANY KIND BY THE SELLER OR BY ANY AGENT
49 REPRESENTING THE SELLER IN THIS TRANSACTION. IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR
50 ANY INSPECTIONS OR TESTS AND THE BUYER IS ENCOURAGED TO OBTAIN HIS OR
51 HER OWN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL INSPECTIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS AND
52 ALSO IS ENCOURAGED TO CHECK PUBLIC RECORDS PERTAINING TO THE PROPERTY.
A. 6608--A 7
1 A KNOWINGLY FALSE OR INCOMPLETE STATEMENT BY THE SELLER ON THIS FORM
2 MAY SUBJECT THE SELLER TO CLAIMS BY THE BUYER PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE
3 TRANSFER OF TITLE. IN THE EVENT A SELLER FAILS TO PERFORM THE DUTY
4 PRESCRIBED IN THIS ARTICLE TO DELIVER A DISCLOSURE STATEMENT PRIOR TO
5 THE SIGNING BY THE BUYER OF A BINDING CONTRACT OF SALE, THE BUYER SHALL
6 RECEIVE UPON THE TRANSFER OF TITLE A CREDIT OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
7 AGAINST THE AGREED UPON PURCHASE PRICE OF THE RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY.
8 "RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY" MEANS REAL PROPERTY IMPROVED BY A ONE TO
9 FOUR FAMILY DWELLING USED OR OCCUPIED, OR INTENDED TO BE USED OR OCCU-
10 PIED, WHOLLY OR PARTLY, AS THE HOME OR RESIDENCE OF ONE OR MORE PERSONS,
11 BUT SHALL NOT REFER TO (A) UNIMPROVED REAL PROPERTY UPON WHICH SUCH
12 DWELLINGS ARE TO BE CONSTRUCTED OR (B) CONDOMINIUM UNITS OR COOPERATIVE
13 APARTMENTS OR (C) PROPERTY ON A HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION THAT IS NOT
14 OWNED IN FEE SIMPLE BY THE SELLER.
15 INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SELLER:
16 (a) ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS BASED UPON YOUR ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE.
17 (b) ATTACH ADDITIONAL PAGES WITH YOUR SIGNATURE IF ADDITIONAL SPACE IS
18 REQUIRED.
19 (c) COMPLETE THIS FORM YOURSELF.
20 (d) IF SOME ITEMS DO NOT APPLY TO YOUR PROPERTY, CHECK "NA" (NON-AP-
21 PLICABLE). IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER CHECK "UNKN" (UNKNOWN).
22 SELLER'S STATEMENT: THE SELLER MAKES THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTATIONS TO
23 THE BUYER BASED UPON THE SELLER'S ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AT THE TIME OF SIGN-
24 ING THIS DOCUMENT. THE SELLER AUTHORIZES HIS OR HER AGENT, IF ANY, TO
25 PROVIDE A COPY OF THIS STATEMENT TO A PROSPECTIVE BUYER OF THE RESIDEN-
26 TIAL REAL PROPERTY. THE FOLLOWING ARE REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY THE SELLER
27 AND ARE NOT THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER'S AGENT.
28 GENERAL INFORMATION
29 1. HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED THE PROPERTY?
30 2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU OCCUPIED THE PROPERTY?
31 3. WHAT IS THE AGE OF THE STRUCTURE OR STRUCTURES? NOTE TO BUYER--IF
32 THE STRUCTURE WAS BUILT BEFORE 1978 YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO INVESTI-
33 GATE FOR THE PRESENCE OF LEAD BASED PAINT HAZARDS. IN ADDITION, NEW
34 YORK REAL PROPERTY LAW REQUIRES THE SELLER TO PRODUCE THE RESULTS
35 OF A TEST OF ALL THE PAINTED SURFACES FOR LEAD, OR TO CONDUCT SUCH
36 A TEST IF NOT PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED.
37 4. DOES ANYBODY OTHER THAN YOURSELF HAVE A LEASE, EASEMENT OR ANY
38 OTHER RIGHT TO USE OR OCCUPY ANY PART OF YOUR PROPERTY OTHER THAN
39 THOSE STATED IN DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC RECORD, SUCH AS
40 RIGHTS TO USE A ROAD OR PATH OR CUT TREES OR CROPS. YES NO UNKN NA
41 5. DOES ANYBODY ELSE CLAIM TO OWN ANY PART OF YOUR PROPERTY? YES NO
42 UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
43 6. HAS ANYONE DENIED YOU ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY OR MADE A FORMAL LEGAL
44 CLAIM CHALLENGING YOUR TITLE TO THE PROPERTY? YES NO UNKN NA (IF
45 YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
46 7. ARE THERE ANY FEATURES OF THE PROPERTY SHARED IN COMMON WITH
47 ADJOINING LAND OWNERS OR A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, SUCH AS WALLS,
48 FENCES OR DRIVEWAYS? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES DESCRIBE BELOW)
49 8. ARE THERE ANY ELECTRIC OR GAS UTILITY SURCHARGES FOR LINE EXTEN-
50 SIONS, SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS OR HOMEOWNER OR OTHER ASSOCIATION FEES
51 THAT APPLY TO THE PROPERTY? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
52 9. ARE THERE CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY RELATED TO THE PROPERTY? YES
53 NO UNKN NA (IF NO, EXPLAIN BELOW)
A. 6608--A 8
1 ENVIRONMENTAL
2 NOTE TO SELLER - IN THIS SECTION, YOU WILL BE ASKED QUESTIONS REGARD-
3 ING PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND HAZARDOUS OR TOXIC SUBSTANCES THAT YOU KNOW
4 TO HAVE BEEN SPILLED, LEAKED OR OTHERWISE BEEN RELEASED ON THE PROPERTY
5 OR FROM THE PROPERTY ONTO ANY OTHER PROPERTY. PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAY
6 INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, GASOLINE, DIESEL FUEL, HOME HEATING
7 FUEL, AND LUBRICANTS. HAZARDOUS OR TOXIC SUBSTANCES ARE PRODUCTS THAT
8 COULD POSE SHORT- OR LONG-TERM DANGER TO PERSONAL HEALTH OR THE ENVIRON-
9 MENT IF THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY DISPOSED OF, APPLIED OR STORED. THESE
10 INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, FERTILIZERS, PESTICIDES AND INSECTI-
11 CIDES, PAINT INCLUDING PAINT THINNER, VARNISH REMOVER AND WOOD PRESERVA-
12 TIVES, TREATED WOOD, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS SUCH AS ASPHALT AND ROOFING
13 MATERIALS, ANTIFREEZE AND OTHER AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS, BATTERIES, CLEANING
14 SOLVENTS INCLUDING SEPTIC TANK CLEANERS, HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS AND POOL
15 CHEMICALS AND PRODUCTS CONTAINING MERCURY AND LEAD.
16 NOTE TO BUYER - IF CONTAMINATION OF THIS PROPERTY FROM PETROLEUM
17 PRODUCTS AND/OR HAZARDOUS OR TOXIC SUBSTANCES IS A CONCERN TO YOU, YOU
18 ARE URGED TO CONSIDER SOIL AND GROUNDWATER TESTING OF THIS PROPERTY. IF
19 LEAD IN DRINKING WATER IS A CONCERN TO YOU, YOU ARE URGED TO HAVE THE
20 PLUMBING EXAMINED, INCLUDING THE SERVICE LINE.
21 10. IS ANY OR ALL OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED IN A DESIGNATED FLOODPLAIN?
22 YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
23 11. IS ANY OR ALL OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED IN A DESIGNATED WETLAND?
24 YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
25 12. IS THE PROPERTY LOCATED IN AN AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT? YES NO
26 UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
27 13. WAS THE PROPERTY EVER THE SITE OF A LANDFILL? YES NO UNKN NA
28 (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
29 14. ARE THERE OR HAVE THERE EVER BEEN FUEL STORAGE TANKS ABOVE OR
30 BELOW THE GROUND ON THE PROPERTY? YES NO UNKN NA IF YES, ARE
31 THEY CURRENTLY IN USE? YES NO UNKN NA LOCATION(S) ARE THEY LEAKING
32 OR HAVE THEY EVER LEAKED? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
33 15. IS THERE ASBESTOS IN THE STRUCTURE? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, STATE
34 LOCATION OR LOCATIONS BELOW)
35 16. IS LEAD PLUMBING PRESENT? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, STATE LOCATION
36 OR LOCATIONS BELOW)
37 17. HAS A RADON TEST BEEN DONE? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, ATTACH A COPY
38 OF THE REPORT)
39 18. HAS MOTOR FUEL, MOTOR OIL, HOME HEATING FUEL, LUBRICATING OIL OR
40 ANY OTHER PETROLEUM PRODUCT, METHANE GAS, OR ANY HAZARDOUS OR
41 TOXIC SUBSTANCE SPILLED, LEAKED OR OTHERWISE BEEN RELEASED ON THE
42 PROPERTY OR FROM THE PROPERTY ONTO ANY OTHER PROPERTY? YES NO
43 UNKN NA (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
44 19. HAS THE PROPERTY BEEN TESTED FOR THE PRESENCE OF MOTOR FUEL, MOTOR
45 OIL, HOME HEATING FUEL, LUBRICATING OIL, OR ANY OTHER PETROLEUM
46 PRODUCT, METHANE GAS, OR ANY HAZARDOUS OR TOXIC SUBSTANCE? YES NO
47 UNKN NA (IF YES, ATTACH REPORT(S))
48 STRUCTURAL
49 20. IS THERE ANY ROT OR WATER DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE OR STRUCTURES?
50 YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
51 21. IS THERE ANY FIRE OR SMOKE DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE OR STRUCTURES?
52 YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
A. 6608--A 9
1 22. IS THERE ANY TERMITE, INSECT, RODENT OR PEST INFESTATION OR
2 DAMAGE? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
3 23. HAS THE PROPERTY BEEN TESTED FOR TERMITE, INSECT, RODENT OR PEST
4 INFESTATION OR DAMAGE? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, PLEASE ATTACH
5 REPORT(S))
6 24. WHAT IS THE TYPE OF ROOF/ROOF COVERING (SLATE, ASPHALT, OTHER.)?
7 ANY KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECTS? HOW OLD IS THE ROOF? IS THERE A TRANS-
8 FERABLE WARRANTEE ON THE ROOF IN EFFECT NOW? YES NO UNKN NA (IF
9 YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
10 25. ARE THERE ANY KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECTS IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
11 STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS: FOOTINGS, BEAMS, GIRDERS, LINTELS, COLUMNS OR
12 PARTITIONS. YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
13 MECHANICAL SYSTEMS & SERVICES
14 26. WHAT IS THE WATER SOURCE (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY - WELL, PRIVATE,
15 MUNICIPAL, OTHER)? IF MUNICIPAL, IS IT METERED? YES NO UNKN NA
16 27. HAS THE WATER QUALITY AND/OR FLOW RATE BEEN TESTED? YES NO UNKN NA
17 (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
18 28. WHAT IS THE TYPE OF SEWAGE SYSTEM (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY - PUBLIC
19 SEWER, PRIVATE SEWER, SEPTIC OR CESSPOOL)? IF SEPTIC OR CESSPOOL,
20 AGE? ________ DATE LAST PUMPED? ________ FREQUENCY OF PUMPING?
21 ________ ANY KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECTS? YES NO UNKN NA (IF YES,
22 EXPLAIN BELOW)
23 29. WHO IS YOUR ELECTRIC SERVICE PROVIDER? ________ WHAT IS THE AMPER-
24 AGE? ________ DOES IT HAVE CIRCUIT BREAKERS OR FUSES? ________
25 PRIVATE OR PUBLIC POLES? ________ ANY KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECTS? YES
26 NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
27 30. ARE THERE ANY FLOODING, DRAINAGE OR GRADING PROBLEMS THAT RESULTED
28 IN STANDING WATER ON ANY PORTION OF THE PROPERTY? YES NO UNKN NA
29 (IF YES, STATE LOCATIONS AND EXPLAIN BELOW)
30 31. DOES THE BASEMENT HAVE SEEPAGE THAT RESULTS IN STANDING WATER? YES
31 NO UNKN NA (IF YES, EXPLAIN BELOW)
32 ARE THERE ANY KNOWN MATERIAL DEFECTS IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING (IF YES,
33 EXPLAIN BELOW. USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS IF NECESSARY.):
34 32. PLUMBING SYSTEM? YES NO UNKN NA
35 33. SECURITY SYSTEM? YES NO UNKN NA
36 34. CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR? YES NO UNKN NA
37 35. SMOKE DETECTOR? YES NO UNKN NA
38 36. FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM? YES NO UNKN NA
39 37. SUMP PUMP? YES NO UNKN NA
40 38. FOUNDATION/SLAB? YES NO UNKN NA
41 39. INTERIOR WALLS/CEILINGS? YES NO UNKN NA
42 40. EXTERIOR WALLS OR SIDING? YES NO UNKN NA
43 41. FLOORS? YES NO UNKN NA
44 42. CHIMNEY/FIREPLACE OR STOVE? YES NO UNKN NA
45 43. PATIO/DECK? YES NO UNKN NA
46 44. DRIVEWAY? YES NO UNKN NA
47 45. AIR CONDITIONER? YES NO UNKN NA
48 46. HEATING SYSTEM? YES NO UNKN NA
49 47. HOT WATER HEATER? YES NO UNKN NA
50 48. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE
51 FOLLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICT UNKN
A. 6608--A 10
1 NOTE: BUYER IS ENCOURAGED TO CHECK PUBLIC RECORDS CONCERNING THE PROP-
2 ERTY (E.G. TAX RECORDS AND WETLAND AND FLOOD PLAIN MAPS)
3 THE SELLER SHOULD USE THIS AREA TO FURTHER EXPLAIN ANY ITEM ABOVE. IF
4 NECESSARY, ATTACH ADDITIONAL PAGES AND INDICATE HERE THE NUMBER OF ADDI-
5 TIONAL PAGES ATTACHED.
6 ______________________________________________________________________
7 ______________________________________________________________________
8 ______________________________________________________________________
9 ______________________________________________________________________
10 SELLER'S CERTIFICATION: SELLER CERTIFIES THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS
11 PROPERTY CONDITION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IS TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE
12 SELLER'S ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AS OF THE DATE SIGNED BY THE SELLER. IF A
13 SELLER OF RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY ACQUIRES KNOWLEDGE WHICH RENDERS
14 MATERIALLY INACCURATE A PROPERTY CONDITION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT PROVIDED
15 PREVIOUSLY, THE SELLER SHALL DELIVER A REVISED PROPERTY CONDITION
16 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT TO THE BUYER AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. IN NO EVENT,
17 HOWEVER, SHALL A SELLER BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A REVISED PROPERTY CONDI-
18 TION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT AFTER THE TRANSFER OF TITLE FROM THE SELLER TO
19 THE BUYER OR OCCUPANCY BY THE BUYER, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER.
20 SELLER _______________________________________ DATE ________________
21 SELLER _______________________________________ DATE ________________
22 BUYER'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT: BUYER ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF A COPY OF THIS
23 STATEMENT AND BUYER UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS INFORMATION IS A STATEMENT OF
24 CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY KNOWN TO THE
25 SELLER. IT IS NOT A WARRANTY OF ANY KIND BY THE SELLER OR SELLER'S AGENT
26 AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR ANY HOME, PEST, RADON OR OTHER INSPECTIONS
27 OR TESTING OF THE PROPERTY OR INSPECTION OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS.
28 BUYER _______________________________________ DATE ________________
29 BUYER _______________________________________ DATE ________________
30 § 5. This act shall take effect August 1, 2022. Effective immediate-
31 ly, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
32 necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
33 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.