I sold my home 6 months ago in SF and the buyers found dry rot when they began their renovation of the bathroom. Do I have any obligation to pay for repairs?
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I sold my home 6 months ago in SF and the buyers found dry rot when they began their renovation of the bathroom. Do I have any obligation to pay for repairs?
I received an email the other day from the buyers of my house that their contractor found
Asked on March 23, 2017 under Real Estate Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
They can file a suit against you and force you to respond, since the courts do not "pre-screen" lawsuits for their validity or strength. But to recover compensation (that is, to win the suit), they'd have to be able to prove in court that you did in fact know of the condition, or at least "reasonably" (i.e. logically; any homeowner in your position, under the facts of the case, would have known) must have known and, despite knowing, failed to disclose this information. If they can't show that you knew or should have known, they can't establish that you committed fraud; and if you did not commit fraud, you should not be liable.
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