Millions of Americans receive little or no information about flood risk before they buy a house or sign a lease, leading families to put their safety, belongings and financial security in harm's way. New rules in four states aim to address the problem.Millions of Americans receive little or no information about flood risk before they buy a house or sign a lease, leading families to put their safety, belongings and financial security in harm's way.
Now, that is changing for residents of four coastal states. New York, New Jersey, South Carolina and North Carolina are all strengthening rules that require home sellers, and in some cases landlords, to disclose information about whether a home or apartment has flooded in the past and whether it is likely to flood in the future.
In New York and New Jersey, the state legislatures passed new laws requiring disclosure of flood information. In North Carolina and South Carolina, the state real estate commissions are expected to release more stringent flood disclosure forms in the coming weeks. In all four states, potential home buyers will receive a form with flood-related information after they make an offer, and have the option to walk away from the purchase. In New Jersey and New York, renters are also required to receive some information about their flood risk.
Climate experts and floodplain managers say the new rules will help protect people from the growing hazards of climate change, which is causing sea level rise, more intense hurricanes and heavier rainstorms. Virtually every county in the U.S. has
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