Sell in Cranston with Meydomo

Real Estate Sales Disclosure Form

Rhode Island law (R.I. Gen. Laws §5-20.8-2) requires sellers of one to four-family residential properties to provide a written disclosure of the property's known conditions to prospective buyers **prior to executing a purchase and sales agreement**. The RI Department of Business Regulation provides a standardized "Real Estate Sales Disclosure Form" that covers structural, mechanical, and other issues: basement leaks, roof, septic/sewer, plumbing, electrical, pest infestations, hazardous materials (radon, lead, etc.), zoning violations, easements, etc. Sellers must answer each item and explain issues when needed. If a seller fails to give this form on time, the buyer has the right to terminate any resulting contract before closing. Rhode Island also requires separate disclosure of any known private beach association fees or coastal buffer zones, often included in the form’s questionnaire. Notably, new legislation in 2024 expanded required flood disclosure – sellers must now disclose if the property is in a flood zone or has experienced flood damage and the need for flood insurance (beyond just checking a box, they must detail it). Some transfers (estate fiduciary sales, between family, etc.) are exempt. Failure to disclose known defects can open seller to lawsuits for misrepresentation.

• R.I. Gen. Laws §5-20.8-2:contentReference[oaicite:212]{index=212}
• §5-20.8-13 (flood disclosure)

MLS Policies

Rhode Island’s statewide MLS (State-Wide MLS) requires listings have a signed listing agreement. Clear Cooperation is in effect. In listings, agents usually mark "Seller Disclosure: Yes" and upload the completed RI disclosure form as an attachment in the MLS. Because RI just updated the form for new flood questions in 2024, MLS often will remind agents to use the latest version (there was an Association bulletin about it). Fair housing wise, State-Wide MLS will not permit any discriminatory hints in remarks. The MLS also instituted a rule that any reference to buyer letters or statements encouraging them are disallowed, in line with fair housing guidance (to avoid potential bias). Photos are required on all listings, and digitally altering photos to conceal defects (like photoshopping out a crack in the wall) would be considered a violation of ethics/MLS rules. If a seller chooses not to provide a disclosure form (maybe in an exempt transfer), the MLS agent remarks will usually state 'Seller exempt from disclosure law.' The MLS doesn't police that beyond normal expectation. They do police timely status changes and completeness of fields (for example, you must indicate heating fuel type, sewer type, etc., which align with what must be disclosed in the form anyway).

• R.I. Association of REALTORS® Guidance:contentReference[oaicite:214]{index=214}
• State-Wide MLS Rules

Lead-Based Paint Hazard Disclosure

Federal law (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992) requires sellers of pre-1978 residential properties to disclose known lead-based paint hazards and provide the EPA “Protect Your Family from Lead” pamphlet, and allow buyers a 10-day period to conduct a lead inspection.

• 42 U.S.C. 4852d
• 24 CFR 35

Fair Housing Act (No Discriminatory Advertising)

Under federal law, as well as Rhode Island law, advertisements for housing must not express any preference or limitation based on protected classes. Rhode Island adds marital status and age (18+) as protected in housing ads. Thus, no listing verbiage like “ideal for couples without kids” or “Catholic neighborhood” is allowed.

• 42 U.S.C. §3604(c)
• R.I. Gen. Laws §34-37-4