News Release
For Immediate Release
June 20, 2001
 

Greenleaf: Inform Tenants and Residential Buyers of Flood History

HARRISBURG –On the heels of disastrous flooding and loss of life in eastern Montgomery and lower Bucks counties, Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf is developing legislation requiring landlords and home sellers to inform prospective tenants and homebuyers about the flood history of residential property.

Greenleaf said his legislation would require tenants and homebuyers to sign a waiver acknowledging that they have been informed that the property is in a flood plain or is prone to flooding.

Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Allison during the weekend resulted in seven deaths and damage to more than 600 homes and businesses in and around Upper Moreland Township. A number of people affected by the flooding said that they were not aware when they moved in to their residences that the area had a history of flooding.

"Knowing the flood history of a property is a matter of more than potential property damage. As we have learned recently, it might be a matter of life and death," Greenleaf said.

Currently, the Real Estate Disclosure Act requires information on structural, electrical, and sewage system issues, as well as on the known presence of hazardous substances, soils, and drainage. Greenleaf said he wants a specific requirement in the real estate disclosure statute, requiring information from the seller about flooding and the severity of flooding that has occurred at the site of the property.

The senator wants similar disclosures made to prospective tenants of a rental property before they sign a lease.

"Requiring the renter or buyer of a property to sign a waiver form indicating that information on flood history has been provided by the landlord or seller is a further insurance that all parties in the transaction understand the situation," Greenleaf said. "The flood history of a site is too important an issue to allow it to be glossed over," the senator said.