Q: I bought a house outright 5 months ago with entire inheritance. I feel the owners hid major issues & need help.
Siding is popping off & warped. Foundation has lots of cracks that were hidden by foliage & fresh paint. Was told hole in tile was in case washer overflow, but sewage came up from it a few days ago. Walls are cracking that were patched and painted to cover the cracks. Sewer smell under floor in bathroom was not noticable during any walk throughs because wood floors had been refinished & new thick carpet (covers a large crack or some deformity on floor under it) in 1 room next to the bathroom, a long with heavy paint fumes masked the odor that now is unbearable. I'm a first time buyer & I didn't fully understand everything in inspectors report, but most of the problems here aren't even in the report due to camouflage. Fresh grout already disintegrating. Ceiling & wall cracks & separation from ceiling in pantry now visible. "New" rain gutters all direct rain to cause foundation damage & they all leak. Do I have any recourse?
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- California
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
Under California law, you may have recourse in this situation, especially if the sellers failed to disclose known material defects in the property that were not apparent during your inspections. You should consult with an attorney experienced in real estate and disclosure issues to review your specific case. They can help you determine if you have grounds for a legal claim against the sellers for nondisclosure or misrepresentation of the property's condition.
Additionally, you should gather all relevant documents, including the inspector's report and any correspondence with the sellers, as evidence for your case. California law requires sellers to provide a Transfer Disclosure Statement, which outlines known defects in the property. If it's discovered that the sellers intentionally concealed or misrepresented these issues, you may have a valid claim for damages.
It's crucial to act promptly as there are time limitations for filing claims related to property purchases. An attorney can guide you through the legal process and help you seek remedies, such as compensation for necessary repairs or even potentially rescinding the sale, depending on the circumstances.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
