If you live in a much older property then that property will not be perfect and will always have minor things wrong with it.The difference is if you are talking cosmetic issues or defective issues.

She noted no defect with the unit on the move-in inspection check list (I inherited her as a tenant).

Perhaps an umbrella policy is a better option for a lot of people. http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/limited-liability-protection-llcs-a-50-state-guide.html http://constructionlawcarolina.com/2012/05/14/sc-supreme-court-holds-llc-member-personally-liable-for-construction-defects/

I have a section on drain stoppages that cite that anything besides that caused by defective plumbing, tree roots, or acts of God will be the responsibility of the tenant and contains a list of the obvious of what not to put in the drain and that tenant agrees to pay plumbing cost to clear stoppages beside the above.

In addtion, if you read here-  http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/re... it says that "The "repair and deduct" remedy allows a tenant to deduct money from the rent, up to the amount of one month's rent, to pay for repair of defects in the rental unit."

We engaged the services of an inept building inspector (family friend) prior to buying the place and he missed a substantial amount of defects in the property that would have allowed us to negotiate down the price of the property.

Pruner through this. but at the end of the day he just could not take the stress. he stated to me he could not sleep.He was getting city violations and lien notices he was worried those would go against his personal credit  even though everyone who talked to him said it would not.Groundfloor playing hardball telling him he owes them money... when it looks like Groundfloor had a defective lien. 

You must run the numbers to see if the deal makes sense, but from a negotiation perspective, you can send the listing agent & seller photographs of the sewer line breaks, and inform them, that if they decide not to move forward with your offer, that in principle, they are required to disclose that defect to any future prospective buyers.  

(If he won't give you a figure, write in whatever you this is fair).Second of all, disclosure about material defects like structural issues are absolutely necessary.  

The difficulty with the entire scheme is that seeing a vacant, under-utilized parcel becomes a "shiny object" for the would-be real estate buyer who devotes way too much time to a less-than-ideal opportunity.I was drawn to this thread by the term adverse possession, which fir which there are two types:1) Color of title - for which title to real property is obtained by way of a defective document which, on its face, appears to transfer title.