I Bought a Property in Cleveland with Lead Problems. Can I Undo the Sale?

Starting February 6, 2024, if you buy a property in Cleveland, the seller must give you a special certificate. This certificate will tell you if there are any issues with the property, like if it has been flagged for lead problems by the City of Cleveland.

If you bought a property in Cleveland and didn’t get this certificate, you might be able to cancel the sale. This means you could return the property to the person or company you bought it from, and they would have to give your money back.

It might not always work, especially if the seller is no longer around, but you could get rid of a property with hidden lead issues. If the seller can be found, they might have to pay you back the money you spent on the property.

This blog was drafted by Nicholas Weiss, the owner and founder of N.P. Weiss Law. For more information about Nick, visit his bio page. 

If you need legal assistance regarding a property with lead problems you can contact our office to schedule a consultation with Attorney Nicholas Weiss.

For a broader overview of Ohio’s residential property disclosure requirements—including what both buyers and sellers should understand when navigating real estate transactions in the Greater Cleveland area—watch the video below.

This article is meant to be utilized as a general guideline. Nothing in this blog is intended to create an attorney-client relationship or to provide legal advice on which you should rely without talking to your own retained attorney first.  If you have questions about your particular legal situation, you should contact a legal professional.