S-0479.2                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 5045

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Senator Haugen

Read first time 01/11/93.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

Requiring disclosure of septic system location and issuance of necessary permits.

          AN ACT Relating to disclosure of location of septic systems and issuance of necessary permits in sales of residential real estate; and adding a new section to chapter 65.04 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 65.04 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The county auditor or recording officer shall not record any deed or contract conveying an interest in residential real property unless accompanied by a disclosure statement signed by both the seller and purchaser.  The disclosure statement must be in substantially the same form as prescribed in subsection (3) of this section.

          (2) This section shall not apply to any conveyance made for the purpose of establishing security for a loan of money where no immediate possessory interest in real estate is being transferred.

          (3) The disclosure statement shall be prepared by the county auditor or recording officer and shall be in substantially the following form:

                                                       RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE SALE

                                                               DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

          The undersigned buyer acknowledges that he and/or she has made and the undersigned purchaser acknowledges that he and/or she has received the following disclosures:

          1.  If the real property being conveyed is served by an on-site septic system, that system does not improperly encroach on any easement or right-of-way and is in compliance with all applicable regulations.

          2.  Any required building and occupancy permits have been issued for all residential structures being conveyed.

SIGNED . . . . . . . . . . . .                              . . . . . . . . . . . .

             Seller                                                                   Purchaser

             . . . . . . . . . . . .                              . . . . . . . . . . . .

             Seller                                                                   Purchaser

 Date: . . . . . . . . . . . .                      Date: . . . . . . . . .

          (4) As used in this section, "residential real property" means single-family dwelling or multiunit dwelling whether acquired as the personal residence for the purchaser or for commercial purposes.

          (5) The failure to represent the transaction as one involving residential real property to the county auditor or recording officer and to complete and submit a disclosure statement as required by this section shall result in the liability of the seller and any person assisting either the seller or the purchaser in the closing of the sale transaction who receives compensation from either the seller or purchaser for such assistance, to the purchaser for any damages incurred by the seller because of improper siting or construction of any septic system or because of the failure to obtain any required building or occupancy permits at the time of the construction of any residential structures.

          (6) This section shall not impair or alter any other rights the purchaser may have under common law or statute.

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