St. Paul Truth-in-Sale of Housing
Chapter 189 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code requires a Truth-in-Sale of Housing disclosure report be prepared and available to prospective buyers for all single family and duplex homes for sale in the city. For the full text of the ordinance use the link for "Chapter 189 (Truth-in-Sale of Housing)", on this page.
This Truth-in-Sale of Housing disclosure report must be conspicuously displayed at the premises for all prospective buyers to see. A valid disclosure report issued under the ordinance shall be provided to the buyer before or at the time of sale of the dwelling. Disclosure reports shall be prepared only by an independent evaluator who has been certified as a Truth-in-Sale of Housing evaluator under the ordinance.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
WHAT IS A DISCLOSURE REPORT?
This disclosure report is an overview of the building components and fixtures. It is to inform prospective buyer of the observed condition of a dwelling at the time of the evaluation. The disclosure report is intended to provide basic information to the home buyer and the seller prior to the time of sale; not necessarily detailed information. Prospective buyers may also seek additional opinions from various experts in the inspections field prior to purchase.
IS THE CITY GOING TO USE THE REPORT FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT?
With the exception of the hard-wired smoke detector ordinance, the City is not going to use the report as a means of code enforcement. Remember, the report is ONLY a disclosure.
ARE ALL DWELLINGS INCLUDED?
One and two-family dwellings, town homes, condominiums and co-ops require a Truth-in-Sale of Housing disclosure report whenever there is an intended change of ownership. The intended change of ownership is an important concept to remember. A Truth-in-Sale of Housing disclosure report must be done for Contract-For-Deed sales.
There are some exceptions to the requirement for a Truth-in-Sale of Housing disclosure report. They are:
- Any newly constructed dwelling when title is transferred to the first owner.
- The conveyance of title of the dwelling to a public body.
- A dwelling with a valid Certificate of Code Compliance, or the orders from a Certificate of Code Compliance inspection, as set forth in Section 33 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code which shall be dated no earlier than one (1) year prior to its usage.
- The sale or conveyance of any dwelling by a public or court officer in the performance of their official duties. This does not apply to the sale of a dwelling by a personal representative or guardian appointed by a probate court or a sale ordered by a probate court.
- The sale of a dwelling to a member of the current owner's immediate family: narrowly defined as one of the linear relationships between a parent, child, sibling and/or grandparent.
- The building is going to be demolished within 365 days/1 year.
HOW LONG IS THE DISCLOSURE REPORT VALID?
The report is valid for one (1) year from the date on the report and is only valid for the owner named on the report, and for only one sale.
WHEN SHOULD THE EVALUATION BE DONE?
The ordinance requires an evaluation be done within three (3) calendar days of a dwelling being offered, listed or posted for sale. The Truth-in-Sale of Housing disclosure report issued for the dwelling must be available for viewing by all prospective buyers, and a copy must be provided to the buyer before or at the time of the sale of the dwelling. It is the responsibility of the owner or the owner's agent to comply with these requirements.
St. Paul Truth in Housing Links
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