A spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Commerce said any deaths or crimes in the home do not need to be listed.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For those looking to buy a home, the Residential Property Disclosure Form could be the difference between a dream house and a nightmare.
The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing wants to make sure potential buyers know what is covered in disclosures and what’s not.
Mandatory disclosures include the presence of hazardous materials, such as lead or asbestos, drainage issues, underground storage tanks or wells, or anything hidden on the property that could be dangerous to the new owner.
“If your basement gets water, or if you have a known roof leak, or things like that, it’s very important that sellers disclose those things to the buyers,” said Daphne Hawk, the superintendent of the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing.
What does not need to be disclosed is if the home is suspected of being haunted.
“I think it’s because it’s not a material fact,” said Hawk. “It’s not something that can be proven. There are people, I think, who will come and take a look at your property for you if you’re potentially going to buy, I don’t know what their title would be, but that’s not something that is required.”
A spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Commerce said any deaths or crimes in the home do not need to be listed.
A buyer can ask the seller’s agent if they are aware of any deaths that have occurred in the home, which would need to then be disclosed.
It’s also suggested that a seller discloses as much as possible to avoid legal issues in court.