Hi
I know of a house that is for sale and there is an active water leak in the basement. I don't believe that the owners have disclosed this fact because they want the most money they can get. So, if I call the real estate agent and tell them of this leak could I be held accountable for any problems with the sale of the house, defamation of character etc. I do have first hand evidence to prove there is an active leak.

Thanks for the advice

EA Duff

Kind of a sticky issue here. I am assuming that you are concerned about disclosure to whomever might purchase the home. I hope that I am correct.

Maybe there would be an open house in the near future?

If there is a open house sometime, you might want to go in and ask questions the realtor yourself, not about any disclosure, but about whether there are any leaks. Or, have some friends that you know, but the owner doesn't and have them go to the open house.

Just an idea.

I had a similar problem when I bought my home. I asked about leaks in the basement. He said that he had "detected" moisture from time to time. Well, to make a long story short, it was very detectible and quite much more than moisture as the years went by after I purchased it.

A few sites that do address some of the legalities concerning issues like this, are listed below.

Wet Basements - Should You Buy a House With a Wet Basement? - Spotting Inherent Wet Basement Problems (http://homebuying.about.com/od/homeshopping/qt/Wetbasement.htm)

New Home Has Water Problems - Real Estate Advice - Home Inspection (http://www.thinkglink.com/New_home_Has_Water_Problems.htm)

http://www.weloveaustin.com/sellers/SellersDisclosure.html

Hello ea:

I'll bet you know a lot of bad stuff about people. What is it about THESE people, that makes you want to snitch on them? Don't like 'em huh?

I'm not going to help you settle a vendetta. If you're so worried about the new buyers, why don't you go down and fix the leak?

excon

I will go with excon, what is it about this that makes you want to do that,
Why do you believe these people would not tell about it.

And if it a active leak would it not be able to be seen by the realitor when they looked at the home or show the home?

Also before anyone buys it, they would pay and have a home inspection done also.

But you can, if it is true, inform the realitor about it, as long as it is true, there isno problem, but if that problem was fixed or if you are wrong, then yes they could sue you.