Listing Agent Failed to Disclose Issue During Close

[John Dehn]

I purchased a rental property with tenants in place approximately 18 months ago. The tenants just vacated and let me know that while the property was in escrow a pipe burst under the driveway (gravel) that the listing agent was made aware of by the appraiser while they were onsite. The listing agent called the local water utility and informed the seller. The seller got a "plumber" to the home to dig up the leak, repair it and cover it back up. The issue was never disclosed but the tenants complained of high water bills early on in my ownership. The listing agent fully acknowledges they were aware and should have disclosed but didn't. After bringing it up, a receipt in the form of a written email for $300 from an unlicensed plumber was provided as proof the leak was professionally fixed. Do I have any recourse here?

[Sergey A. Petrov]

I fail to see a major issue here. There was a leak, it was fixed. $300 is not material in my mind. Would you also want them to disclose that a light bulb burnt out or that the garbage disposal broke and needed to be replaced? Plus if it was “discovered” by your appraiser, wouldn’t it have been noted in the appraisal report which you should have received? At the end of the day, it sounds like your 3 leaking toilet flappers are the issue here anyways