Greetings!
Due to legislation that will become effective January 1, 2022, we have made revisions to Forms 17 and 17C. The revised forms will be published to Legal Library PRO on August 16, 2021.
Please note that the legislation that mandates changes to Form 17 is not effective until January 1, 2022. This means that sellers with active listings, who have already filled out Form 17, do not have to fill out a new form. However, sellers listing property after the revised forms are published (August 16th), should use the revised form so that the seller will not have to fill out a new form if the property is still on the market on January 1, 2022.
House Bill 1064, effective January 1, 2022, adds a new question to Section 5 of the Seller Disclosure Statement – Improved Property (Form 17). The new question asks the seller “Does the property currently have internet service?” If the answer is yes, the form also asks the seller for the “provider” of the internet service.
House Bill 1335, effective January 1, 2022, adds the following “Notice to Buyer” to Section 1 of Form 17 with regard to unlawful covenants or deed restrictions:
“Covenants or deed restrictions based on race, creed, sexual orientation, or other protected class were voided by RCW 49.60.224 and are unenforceable. Washington law allows for the illegal language to be struck by bringing an action in superior court or by the free recording of a restrictive covenant modification document. Many county auditor websites provide a short form with instructions on this process.”
Although not required by the statute, the revised Seller Disclosure Statement – Unimproved Property (Form 17C) will also contain the same notice language.
