What disclosures are required by Georgia law when selling residential property?

In Georgia, when selling residential property, sellers are specifically required to disclose information regarding lead-based paint hazards if the home was built prior to 1978. This regulation stems from federal laws designed to protect buyers, particularly young children, from the dangers associated with lead poisoning due to lead-based paint, which was commonly used in homes until it was banned in the U.S.

This requirement is particularly significant because lead exposure can have serious health implications, especially for children. Therefore, sellers must inform potential buyers about the presence of lead-based paint and offer them a pamphlet that outlines the risks associated with it.

While disclosures regarding mold presence, structural damages, and neighborhood crime rates are important for a well-informed sale and may be considered good practice, they are not mandated by Georgia law the way the lead-based paint disclosure is. Thus, the necessity of disclosing lead-based paint hazards represents a critical and legally enforced element of residential property sales in Georgia.