Even though Florida has released updated Flood Disclosure forms, serious loopholes remain that continue to leave homebuyers vulnerable. The new form only asks about flooding, claims, or assistance during the seller’s period of ownership. That means if a property flooded before the current owner purchased it, there is still no clear obligation to disclose that history. Sellers can also simply claim they have “no knowledge,” which makes it easy for investors who never lived in the home to avoid responsibility. The form doesn’t require sellers to provide dates, details, or documentation about past flooding, and it doesn’t address repaired or mitigated flood damage that could impact future risk. Even worse, there are no strong penalties or accountability requirements for Realtors who knowingly hide this information, leaving dishonest agents with an advantage over honest professionals who follow the law.
Florida consumers deserve full transparency about whether a home has ever flooded — not just during the current owner’s time. Until the law requires full historical disclosure, consumers will remain at risk, and dishonest actors will continue to profit. This is why our fight to strengthen disclosure standards is far from over. Please share this petition and encourage people to sign it!