I just found out that the house I purchased last year was the site of a suicide. Doesn’t Massachusetts law require disclosure of that type of information to potential buyers?
-- Anonymous
Actually, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 93, Section 114, specifically states that sellers have no affirmative duty to disclose that a property has been “psychologically impacted.” The stature gives several examples of psychological impact, including situations where the property was the site of an alleged supernatural phenomenon (ghosts), a felony, homicide, or suicide.
However, Section 114 does not authorize or allow misrepresentations of fact. If the potential buyer asks the owner or her agent whether the property in question has been psychologically impacted, they must answer truthfully.
(Submitted by the Editor)