                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

OWNER LIABILITY (§ 55.1-710)

A. Except with respect to the disclosures required by &#xA7; 55.1-704, the owner
shall not be liable for any error, inaccuracy, or omission of any information
delivered pursuant to this chapter if (i) the error, inaccuracy, or omission was
not within the actual knowledge of the owner or was based on information
provided by public agencies or by other persons providing information that is
required to be disclosed pursuant to this chapter, or the owner reasonably
believed the information to be correct, and (ii) the owner was not grossly
negligent in obtaining the information from a third party and transmitting it.
The owner shall not be liable for any error, inaccuracy, or omission of any
information required to be disclosed by &#xA7; 55.1-704 if the error,
inaccuracy, or omission was the result of information provided by an officer or
employee of the locality in which the property is located.

B. The delivery by a public agency or other person, as described in subsection
C, of any information required to be disclosed by this chapter to a prospective
purchaser shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this chapter and
shall relieve the owner of any further duty under this chapter with respect to
that item of information.

C. The delivery by the owner of a report or opinion prepared by a licensed
engineer, land surveyor, geologist, wood-destroying insect control expert,
contractor, or home inspection expert, dealing with matters within the scope of
the professional&#8217;s license or expertise, shall satisfy the requirements of
this chapter if the information is provided to the prospective purchaser
pursuant to a request for such information, whether written or oral. In
responding to such a request, an expert may indicate, in writing, an
understanding that the information provided will be used in fulfilling the
requirements of this chapter and, if so, shall indicate the required
disclosures, or portions of such required disclosures, to which the information
being furnished is applicable. Where such a statement is furnished, the expert
shall not be responsible for any items of information, or portions of items of
information, other than those expressly set forth in the statement.

HISTORY: 1992, c. 717, § 55-521; 2005, c. 510; 2007, c. 265; 2019, c. 712.