Property Disclosure Requirements

Essential information for Georgia home sellers about disclosure obligations, forms, and legal requirements.

Understanding Your Disclosure Responsibilities

As a seller in Georgia, you have specific legal obligations to disclose material facts about your property. This guide outlines the required disclosures, forms, and best practices to ensure a transparent and compliant transaction.

Seller's Property Disclosures

Although Georgia does not mandate an official disclosure form as some other states do, Sellers must still reveal any significant defects that a buyer would not discover through a reasonable inspection.

The best way to meet this obligation is to be honest about any known issues and use the appropriate Seller's Property Disclosure Statement according to your property type.

Seller's Property Disclosure Forms:

  • 1
    Seller's Property Disclosure Statement Exhibit (F301)

    Standard disclosure form for most residential properties

  • 2
    Seller's Disclosure of Latent Defects and Fixtures Checklist (F302)

    Use this form instead of F301 if the seller has not lived on the property long enough to be aware of any problems with it.

  • 3
    Seller's Property Disclosure Statement (Condominium) Exhibit (F304)

    Specifically designed for condominium units

  • 4
    Seller's Property Disclosure Statement (Lot/Land) Exhibit (F307)

    For vacant land or lot sales

  • 5
    Seller's Property Disclosure Statement (New Construction) Exhibit (F310)

    For newly constructed homes

  • 6
    New Construction Seller Disclosure Exhibit

    Used in addition to F310 for comprehensive new construction disclosure

Lead Based Paint Exhibit

Important: The Lead-Based Paint Exhibit is required for homes built before 1978. It informs buyers about the potential presence of lead-based paint, which can pose health risks, especially to children and pregnant individuals.

Sellers must disclose any known lead hazards and provide buyers with a Federal Lead-Based Paint Pamphlet. Buyers are also given a 10-day period to conduct a lead-based paint inspection or risk assessment before completing the purchase.

Required Documents:

  • Disclosure of Information on Lead-Based Paint and/or Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Purchase and Sale Transactions (Lead-Based Paint Exhibit) (F316)
  • Lead-Based Paint Pamphlet (CB04) - This should be given to clients along with the Lead-Based Paint Exhibit.

Dekalb County Plumbing Disclosure

This disclosure applies to homes in unincorporated DeKalb County built before 1993. These properties must have water-conserving plumbing fixtures before water service can be activated for the buyer.

Seller Responsibilities

Sellers must inform buyers that all fixtures must meet county standards or qualify for an exemption. This helps ensure compliance and avoids delays in activating water service.

Buyer Requirements

Before water service is turned on, buyers must submit a Certificate of Compliance from a licensed plumber, inspector, or county official, or provide the appropriate exemption documentation if applicable.

Georgia Community Association Disclosure

The Georgia Community Association Disclosure is a form provided by Georgia REALTORS®, real estate agents, and brokers to help Sellers share essential information with buyers about the property's association.

Completing the Georgia Community Association Disclosure is the most effective way to satisfy this requirement.

What Types of Information Does This Disclosure Address?

  • Type of association
  • Association fees
  • Association contact information
  • What services/amenities the assessments pay for
  • Special assessments
  • Litigation
  • Violations
  • Fees paid at or prior to closing
  • Consent of buyer to reveal information to association

Additional Disclosure Information

Selling the Home "As Is"?

Selling a home "As Is" means the Seller is not making any repairs. It does not allow the Seller to hide material defects that a buyer would not typically discover through a standard inspection.

Seller's Obligation to Answer Buyer Questions

Under Georgia Code 44-1-16, Sellers are legally obligated to provide truthful answers to any questions asked by prospective buyers. This requirement promotes transparency and helps buyers make informed decisions.

Note: There are limited exceptions. If a question seeks information protected under state or federal fair housing laws, the Seller is not required to respond. These exceptions exist to uphold nondiscrimination rules and protect the rights of all parties involved.

No Duty to Disclose Non-Material Issues or Fair-Housing Gaps

Georgia explicitly states you do not need to disclose:

  • Non-transmissible diseases among occupants
  • Deaths (including suicides/homicides) unless asked

These protections align with Fair Housing rules.

Timing & How to Obtain Disclosures

When Should I Provide Disclosures?

Disclosures should be completed by the Seller before accepting any offer. To stay compliant with Georgia law, Sellers are encouraged to complete all required disclosure forms and upload them to their flat-fee MLS listing.

Requiring buyers to return the signed disclosures with their initial offer also helps ensure that everyone has reviewed and acknowledged the information provided.

For clients listing their home on the MLS through soldforflatfee.com, all disclosures will be uploaded to the listing as soon as it goes live. This keeps the process simple and ensures buyers have immediate access to the information they need.

How Can I Obtain a Copy of the Necessary Georgia State Disclosures?

We will provide you a copy of any Georgia Realtors disclosure forms for free upon submitting a Flat Fee MLS listing through our website.

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Important Disclaimer

This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Real estate disclosure requirements may vary by location and specific circumstances. We recommend consulting with a qualified real estate attorney to ensure full compliance with Georgia disclosure laws and regulations. soldforflatfee.com is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.